Common Bed Bug (Nymph/Egg stage)
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: Nymphs range from 1.5mm to 4.5mm; nymphs in early instars are translucent or pale yellowish.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically within cracks and crevices of furniture, mattresses, baseboards, and luggage in human dwellings.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. Nymphs require a blood meal to molt to the next stage.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, five nymphal stages, and adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but are significant household pests.
Identified on: 2/27/2026