Bed Bug (Nymph)
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
Size: Nymphs range from 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm; adults are approximately 5 mm or the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in cracks and crevices, mattress seams, bed frames, and upholstered furniture within close proximity to human sleeping areas.
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, five nymphal stages, adult), requiring a blood meal to molt into each successive stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress/insomnia. While they are not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and costly to eradicate.
Identified on: 6/17/2026