Bed Bug (Exoskeleton/Shell Sheaths)
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: Adults are 4–5 mm long; these shed skins (exuviae) are slightly smaller depending on the life stage.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically human dwellings. They frequent mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily preferring human blood, but will feed on other warm-blooded animals if necessary.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive. They undergo five nymphal stages, shedding their outer exoskeleton (casting) each time they grow after a blood meal. These discarded golden-brown shells are a primary sign of an infestation.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin rashes, and psychological distress/insomnia. While not known to transmit diseases, they are significant domestic pests. There are no known benefits to the ecosystem or humans.
Identified on: 1/5/2026