Community identification
Bed Bug Nymph
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm (depending on the nymphal stage or 'instar')
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically in furniture, mattress seams, bed frames, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; nymphs must take a blood meal to molt into the next of five growth stages. They are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide emitted by hosts.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans.