Bed Bug Cast Skin
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: Nymphs start at 1.5 mm; adults range from 4 to 5 mm (the cast skin remains the size of the nymph just before molting).
Natural Habitat
Typically found indoors in human dwellings, hidden in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, bed frames, and behind baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge from hiding at night to feed. They undergo five nymphal stages, shedding their exoskeleton (molting) after each blood meal before reaching maturity.
Risks & Benefits
While not known to transmit diseases, they pose a significant nuisance and health risk due to itchy bites, allergic reactions, and psychological stress. They provide no known benefits to the indoor ecosystem.
Identified on: 3/27/2026