
Community identification
Bed Bug (Nymph)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- Nymphs range from 1.5mm to 4.5mm; the individual in the image appears to be a mid-stage nymph.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically within cracks, crevices, mattress seams, bed frames, and furniture near human sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily preferring human blood but occasionally feeding on other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo five nymphal stages (instars) before reaching adulthood, requiring a blood meal to molt into each successive stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy bites, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits in human domestic environments.