Methods for Testing Repellents Against Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Abstract

Bed bug repellents should not only prevent humans from being bitten but impede an infestation of personal belongings. Only a few test proposals for evaluating the efficacy of repellents against bed bugs have been published so far. In the present study, two test systems were assessed for efficacy testing with five potential bed bug repellents (cinnamon oil, icaridin, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), permethrin, and margosa extract). The first test setup was a harborage choice test system that consisted of a crystallizing dish with a treated and an untreated harborage. Sixty minutes and 24 h after treatment, DEET, icaridin, and cinnamon oil showed the highest repellency with a median proportion of at least 99% repelled bed bugs. The second test system was a barrier test. Bed bugs were attracted by CO2 and heat to cross filter papers treated with the potential repellents. The repellency of substances was significantly lower in comparison to the harborage choice test, except for DEET. The latter showed the highest repellency (97%) against bed bugs 24 h after application compared to controls. Results show that bed bugs are less sensitive to repellents when searching for a bloodmeal than when searching for a shelter.

Characterizing Repellencies of Methyl Benzoate and Its Analogs against the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius

“…The resurgence of bed bug infestations in developed countries during the late twentieth century is often attributed to the increase in world travel [4,5,23], so preventative measures, such as protecting personal belongings with protective linings [24] or repellents [22,[25][26][27][28][29][30], are an important area of research. Several commercial products are marketed as being bed bug repellents (e.g., Bed Bug Killer, Ready-To-Use Spray by Nature's Mace) and treating belongings prior to travel is recommended as a technique to reduce risk of acquiring bed bugs.…”