Bed Bug (specifically a cast skin/exoskeleton)
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Hemiptera: Cimicidae
Size: Cast skins are typically 1-4 mm, while adults grow to 4-5 mm (about the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily bedrooms and sleeping areas; they hide in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks in walls or furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, preferring humans).
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and cryptic; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They go through five nymphal stages, shedding their skin (molting) at each stage, which leaves behind the translucent brown skins seen in the image.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Their bites cause itchy, red welts and can lead to secondary skin infections, allergic reactions, anxiety, and insomnia. They are notoriously difficult and expensive to eradicate. Benefits: None known.
Identified on: 3/5/2026