A widespread misunderstanding online has caused unnecessary alarm by labeling an insect problem as “bedbugs” when the description clearly does not match them. This distinction matters because fear-driven reactions often lead people to throw away furniture, panic about infestations, or spend money on treatments that do nothing to solve the real issue. True bedbugs, scientifically known as Cimex lectularius, are indoor parasites that survive exclusively on human blood. They hide in mattresses, bed frames, furniture seams, and wall crevices, emerging mostly at night while people sleep. Bedbugs are never green, do not live outdoors, and are not seen crawling around windows or walls during the day. When those traits don’t match, the insect simply isn’t a bedbug—no matter how unsettling the situation may feel.

The insect described more accurately fits a green stink bug, commonly associated with the Palomena group. These bugs are plant-feeders that live outdoors in gardens, fields, and wooded areas. They often wander indoors seasonally, especially during cooler months, seeking warmth and shelter. Unlike bedbugs, stink bugs do not infest furniture, clothing, or bedding and do not feed on humans. They’re frequently spotted near windows, doors, radiators, or lights because they’re drawn to warmth and brightness. Their presence is a temporary nuisance—not an infestation—and requires simple exclusion methods rather than aggressive pest control. Correct identification is essential: bedbugs and stink bugs have entirely different behaviors, risks, and solutions. When facts replace fear, people can respond calmly, avoid misinformation, and take the right steps for the actual insect they’re dealing with.