What is the minimum amount of nymphal stages in a bed bug's life cycle prior to adulthood?

In the life cycle of a bed bug, there are typically five nymphal stages before reaching adulthood. Bed bugs go through a process called incomplete metamorphosis, which includes three main life stages: the egg, nymph, and adult. After the egg hatches, the first nymph stage emerges, and the insect must molt through five distinct nymphal phases, known as instars, before it becomes an adult. Each of these nymphal stages requires a blood meal to transition into the next instar.

Understanding this life cycle is crucial for effective pest control, as interventions need to target not just adults but also nymphs at various stages to reduce or eliminate the population effectively. The other options do not accurately represent the typical development stages of bed bugs, making the selection of five the only accurate choice.