
Community identification
Bed Bug Nymph (Shed Skin/Cast)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 mm to 4.5 mm (depending on the instar stage)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, inside mattresses, bed frames, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans).
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and cryptic; they hide during the day in tight spaces and emerge at night to feed. They go through 5 nymphal stages, shedding their skin (molting) at each stage to grow.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Their bites cause itching, welts, and allergic reactions in many people; significant psychological distress and sleep loss; expensive and difficult to eradicate. Benefits: None known ecologically in human habitations.