Community identification
Bed Bug (Early Stage Nymph)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- Nymphs range from 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm; this specimen appears to be a 1st or 2nd instar nymph (~1.5-2 mm).
Natural Habitat
Typically found in human dwellings, hidden in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on human blood during the night.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and highly elusive; nymphs must take a blood meal to molt into the next life stage. They are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans.