There’s a viral misconception spreading online: green insects showing up in homes are being labeled as bedbugs. That’s completely wrong—and it matters. Confusing the two can lead to wasted time, unnecessary panic, and the wrong treatments.
Real bedbugs—Cimex lectularius—are very specific parasites. They feed exclusively on human blood, hide in mattresses, box springs, furniture seams, baseboards, and tiny wall cracks, and only come out when people are resting. They do not live outdoors, infest gardens, or sneak in through houseplants or windows. And here’s a quick tip: bedbugs are never green. They’re flat, oval, reddish-brown, and get darker after feeding. If it’s green, it’s not a bedbug.
The insects described in the article? Most likely green stink bugs, from the Palomena group. These bugs are outdoor creatures, feeding on plants in gardens, fields, and trees. Come fall, they sometimes enter homes seeking warmth and light, which is why people see them near windows, doors, or sunny spots—but they’re harmless indoors. They don’t bite, don’t live in beds, and don’t feed on humans.
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