Cimex lectularius nymph (Bed bug)

Typically found in indoor human environments, seeking refuge in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.

Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They feed by piercing the skin with their rostrum.

Mainly nocturnal and elusive. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, five nymphal stages, adult), requiring a blood meal to molt into each subsequent stage.

Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. While they carry various pathogens, they are not known vectors of clinical disease transmission to humans. No known benefits to humans or the urban ecosystem.