Long-Term Efficacy of Various Natural or “Green” Insecticides against Bed Bugs: A Double-Blind Study

Bed bugs have reemerged recently as a serious and growing problem not only in North America but in many parts of the world. These insects have become the most challenging pest to control in urban environments. Residual insecticides are the most common methods used for bed bug control; however, insecticide resistance limits the efficacy of treatments. Desiccant dusts have emerged as a good option to provide a better residual effect for bed bug control. Several studies have focused on determining the efficacy of dust-based insecticides against bed bugs. However, behavioral responses of bed bugs to insecticide dusts could influence their efficacy. The behavioral responses of bed bugs to six insecticide dusts commonly used in the United States were evaluated with an advanced video tracking technique (Ethovision). Bed bugs took longer to make first contact with areas treated with the diatomaceous earth (DE)-based products MotherEarth D and Alpine than pyrethroid, pyrethrins or silica gel based products, DeltaDust, Tempo 1% Dust and CimeXa, respectively. Lower visitation rates of bed bugs were recorded for areas treated with MotherEarth D, Alpine and CimeXa than that of DeltaDust, Tempo 1% Dust, and Tri-Die Silica + Pyrethrum Dust. Bed bugs spent less time in areas treated with Tri-Die Dust, CimeXa, Alpine, and MotherEarth D than DeltaDust and Tempo 1% Dust, and they exhibited a reduction in locomotor parameters when crawling on areas treated with CimeXa and Alpine. The implications of these responses to bed bug control are discussed.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral Responses of the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, to Insecticide Dusts

Agnew

Romero

2017

“…This may be due to the recent emergence of neonicotinoid resistance in the United States [8] or, as the authors suggest, the consequence of a generally scattered bed bug distribution as a result of resident’s relocating infested belongings. However, a second study examining 6-month aged residues of Alpine Dust Insecticide found the product resulted in only 40% mortality when tested against susceptible C. lectularius , and negligible mortality against resistant C. lectularius , further suggesting this product should only be included as part of a completely integrated program of other control methods for long-term reduction or control against modern field strains of bed bugs [44]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both forms of desiccant dust possess discernable efficacy against bed bugs [24,41,42,43,44,45,46,47] although results have been variable depending on the product tested and bed bug strain(s) used. Diatomaceous earth has been found to be effective, under laboratory conditions, at application rates between 1–8 g/m 2 , achieving 100% mortality against adults over the course of 9–15 days and 99% mortality against nymphs after 2 days [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diatomaceous earth has been found to be effective, under laboratory conditions, at application rates between 1–8 g/m 2 , achieving 100% mortality against adults over the course of 9–15 days and 99% mortality against nymphs after 2 days [24]. Contrastingly, two studies (one field trial-based study and a second, double-blind laboratory study) have otherwise presented evidence that diatomaceous earth may be largely ineffective over longer monitoring periods [44,48], although this may be due to environmental factors such as humidity or the physical properties of the diatoms and how the product has been manufactured [34,38]. When compared, silica gel appears faster-acting with 100% mortality achieved typically within 24–72 h compared to >90% mortality after 10 days for diatomaceous earth [43,45,46].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence of Tolerance to Silica-Based Desiccant Dusts in a Pyrethroid-Resistant Strain of Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Lilly

Webb

Doggett

2016

Insecticide resistance in bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus) has become widespread, which has necessitated the development of new IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies and products for the eradication of infestations. Two promising options are the diatomaceous earth and silica gel-based desiccant dusts, both of which induce dehydration and eventual death upon bed bugs exposed to these products. However, the impact of underlying mechanisms that confer resistance to insecticides, such as cuticle thickening, on the performance of these dusts has yet to be determined. In the present study, two desiccant dusts, CimeXa Insecticide Dust (silica gel) and Bed Bug Killer Powder (diatomaceous earth) were evaluated against two strains of C. lectularius; one highly pyrethroid-resistant and one insecticide-susceptible. Label-rate doses of both products produced 100% mortality in both strains, albeit over dissimilar time-frames (3–4 days with CimeXa vs. 14 days with Bed Bug Killer). Sub-label rate exposure to CimeXa indicated that the pyrethroid-resistant strain possessed a degree of tolerance to this product, surviving 50% longer than the susceptible strain. This is the first study to suggest that mechanisms conferring resistance to pyrethroids, such as cuticular thickening, may have potential secondary impacts on non-synthetic insecticides, including desiccant dusts, which target the bed bug’s cuticle.

“…Thymol was reported as having repellent activity against Blatella lateralis (Walker) (Blattodea: Blattidae) [ 24 ]. In bed bugs, several studies have evaluated the contact toxicity [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], fumigant toxicity [ 29 , 32 , 33 ], and residual toxicity [ 34 , 35 ] of plant-derived pesticides, but few have studied in detailed their repellency. Anderson et al [ 36 ] demonstrated the efficacy of three naturally occurring repellents, para-menthane-3,8-diol, delta dodecalactone, and gamma dodecalactone to prevent bed bugs from hiding in substrate-treated areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral Responses of the Common Bed Bug to Essential Oil Constituents

González-Morales

Terán²,

Romero

2021

Botanical-derived pesticides have arisen as an attractive alternative to synthetic insecticides to effectively manage infestations of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.). While information on contact, residual, and fumigant toxicity of plant-essential oils against bed bugs have been recently published, there is a gap of information regarding the repellent activity of these products and their constituents. Identification of essential oil constituents (EOCs) with repellent activity will help develop potentially efficacious essential oil-based formulations for use in bed bug management programs. In this study, we first screened fresh and 24 h-aged residues of geraniol, eugenol, carvacrol, thymol, citronellic acid, linalool, menthone, trans-cinnamaldehyde, α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene for avoidance behavior from individual bed bugs with a video-tracking system. Six EOCs, geraniol, eugenol, citronellic acid, thymol, carvacrol, and linalool were further evaluated overnight in choice tests to determine whether 24-h aged residues were still avoided by groups of bed bugs. While bed bugs avoided resting on filter papers treated with 24-h aged residues of geraniol, eugenol, citronellic acid, and carvacrol, bed bugs aggregated in areas treated with linalool-aged residues. Barriers of EOCs did not prevent bed bugs from reaching a warmed blood source and acquiring blood meals. Our results show that novel formulations of natural product insecticides that include geraniol, eugenol, carvacrol, or citronellic acid have potential to repel bed bugs. The presence of host-associated cues might interfere with these responses.