Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae

Size: 4 to 5 mm in length (roughly the size of an apple seed).

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt into the next stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: They cause itchy welts, allergic reactions, and significant psychological distress/insomnia. Unlike many other blood-sucking insects, they are not known to typically transmit pathogens to humans. Benefits: None to humans or the ecosystem.

Identified on: 4/18/2026