Common Bed Bug (Nymph/Unfed Phase)
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 1.5 mm to 5 mm depending on life stage (instar) and whether it has recently fed.
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically cracks and crevices in mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous insects, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive. They are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide. They undergo five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt into the next stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, psychological distress, and secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 1/2/2026