Bed Bug (cast skin or fragment)

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae

Size: 1mm to 7mm (this fragment appears to be a partial exoskeleton approximately 2-3mm).

Bed Bug (cast skin or fragment)

Natural Habitat

Human dwellings, specifically in cracks and crevices, mattress seams, bed frames, and furniture near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (obligate blood feeders); 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, shedding their exoskeleton (molting) five times before reaching maturity.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits in a domestic human environment.

Identified on: 1/12/2026