Bed Bug (Early Stage Nymph)

Scientific Name: 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).

Bed Bug (Early Stage Nymph)

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.

Identified on: 3/12/2026