Bed bugs are prevalent pests in diverse settings, including residential homes, hotels, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, dormitories, and movie theaters. They are hematophagous, feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals such as bats and birds through their elongated beak-like mouthparts. Adult bed bugs have a flat, oval shape without wings, and are typically 4-5 mm long and 1.5-3 mm wide. Their hue ranges from light brown when hungry to a darker red, reddish-brown, or nearly black after a blood meal. Unlike small cockroaches, which they are sometimes confused with, bed bugs are obligate blood feeders. They conceal themselves during daylight hours and become active at night to feed. Although their bites may not be felt immediately, they can lead to intense itching that persists for several days. Additionally, bed bugs are known to leave dark fecal marks on sheets and bedding when they are disrupted or crushed.

The bed bug's life cycle includes three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Adult females lay eggs on rough, dry surfaces near their hiding places, either singly or in small clusters. Nymphs hatch from the eggs within one to four weeks and immediately seek a blood meal. As nymphs feed and grow, they molt several times, shedding their skin to reveal a new exoskeleton beneath. Each molt makes the nymph larger. After five molting stages, usually within 4-6 weeks, the nymph becomes an adult. This process of changing body shapes through development stages is termed metamorphosis..

At night, bed bugs come out of hiding to feed on their sleeping hosts. They use their long mouthparts to pierce the skin, inject saliva that dissolves blood cells, and then ingest the resulting liquid. During feeding, their abdomens turn bright red, reddish-brown, or almost black. After feeding, they retreat into hiding. Bed bugs typically feed every five to ten days but can live up to eight months without eating.

Although many insects that feed on blood can spread diseases, bed bugs are not known to transmit any harmful pathogens. Reactions to bed bug bites can vary greatly from person to person. Some may show no signs of being bitten, while others might not realize they have been bitten until they see symptoms like rashes, redness, swelling, or intense itching.

Bed bugs are nocturnal insects, adept at hiding in dark crevices during the day. They often reside in the crevices of mattresses and box springs, as well as bed frames and headboards, and are nestled between sofa and chair cushions. Occasionally, they can be found in dressers and nightstands, within and on top of luggage, inside electrical outlets, and among clutter. Once bed bugs infest a room, they commonly expand to adjacent rooms.