Potential population growth and harmful effects on humans from bed bug populations exposed to different feeding regimes

Pereira, Roberto M.; Taylor, Ann; Lehnert, Margie P.; koehler, Philip G.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2915.2012.01057.x

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Feeding frequency – This factor was strongly linked to temperature and host availability for bed bug populations [ 27 ]. A rate of two feedings per week seems to be closer to the naturally observed frequency [ 19 , 26 ]. The majority of researchers fed their bed bug colonies weekly (67.8%), biweekly (16.9%), every three days (3.4%), continuously (3.4%) or did not report this information (8.5%).…”

Section: Physiological Factorssupporting

confidence: 61%

A review of data on laboratory colonies of bed bugs (Cimicidae), an insect of emerging medical relevance

et al. 2015

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Cimicidae are hematophagous Heteroptera, feeding on human blood, that have been the subject of significant medical investigation. In particular, they have been colonized under laboratory conditions to study their medical relevance. Laboratory colonization of these bugs is a multifactorial phenomenon. Our goal was to conduct a comparative literature review to classify the published data, demonstrating preferred bed bug colony conditions. We show that physical factors including temperature, relative humidity and photoperiod, and physiological factors such as type and frequency of blood meals play important roles in laboratory colonies. Any change in these factors produces changes in life-cycle duration. Temperature and blood meal are the most important factors, with a marked impact on the life-cycle of laboratory populations, depending on the species. A wide range of temperatures (15–34 °C) and relative humidity (46–75%) with an average of 25 °C and 59% were found for these colonies. Two widely used blood sources for the colonies were rabbits and humans.

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Section: Physiological Factorssupporting

confidence: 61%

A review of data on laboratory colonies of bed bugs (Cimicidae), an insect of emerging medical relevance

et al. 2015

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“…This may prevent bed bugs from remaining hidden when the killing agents are most potent. It is not expected that natural populations are as synchronized in feeding, as in the present study, and frequent and almost continuous feeding and egg laying may occur within a population (Reinhardt et al , ; Pereira et al , ). Therefore, if artificial host signals are to be utilized efficiently in pest management, then the time subsequent to the last feeding and overall hunger state of the population needs to be considered.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Questing activity in bed bug populations: male and female responses to host signals

et al. 2014

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A large-arena bioassay is used to examine sex differences in spatiotemporal patterns of bed bug Cimex lectularius L. behavioural responses to either a human host or CO2 gas. After release in the centre of the arena, 90% of newly-fed bed bugs move to hiding places in the corners within 24 h. They require 3 days to settle down completely in the arena, with generally low activity levels and the absence of responses to human stimuli for 5 days. After 8–9 days, persistent responses can be recorded. Sex differences are observed, in which females are more active during establishment, respond faster after feeding, expose themselves more than males during the daytime, and respond more strongly to the host signal. The number of bed bugs that rest in harbourages is found to vary significantly according to light setting and sex. Both sexes stay inside harbourages more in daylight compared with night, and males hide more than females during the daytime but not during the night. The spatial distribution of the bed bugs is also found to change with the presence of CO2, and peak aggregation around the odour source is observed after 24 min. Both male and female bed bugs move from hiding places or the border of the arena toward the centre where CO2 is released. Peak responses are always highest during the night. Bed bug behaviour and behaviour-regulating features are discussed in the context of control methods.

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“…With their current global distribution, human dwellings may even be considered their main “natural” habitat, and bed bugs are a true anthropochore. Food through human blood meals is available in sufficient quantities, cryptic nocturnal behaviour enables undisturbed feeding [ 1 , 2 ], aggregation in cracks and crevices offers suitable microhabitat [ 3 ], hitchhiking on human belongings [ 4 , 5 ] or walking [ 6 , 7 ] secures efficient dispersal, natural enemies [ 8 – 10 ] are mostly absent, the high reproductive rate promotes fast population growth [ 11 , 12 ] and resistance counters our attempts to use pesticides for elimination [ 13 – 17 ]. Many of these success factors are difficult to manipulate in bed bug control, but the abiotic environment in which bed bugs thrive is disposed to alterations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature stress deteriorates bed bug (Cimex lectularius) populations through decreased survival, fecundity and offspring success

et al. 2018

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Sublethal heat stress may weaken bed bug infestations to potentially ease control. In the present study, experimental populations exposed to 34, 36 or 38°C for 2 or 3 weeks suffered significant mortality during exposure. Among survivors, egg production, egg hatching, moulting success and offspring proliferation decreased significantly in the subsequent 7 week recovery period at 22°C. The overall population success was negatively impacted by increasing temperature and duration of the stress. Such heat stress is inadequate as a single tool for eradication, but may be included as a low cost part of an integrated pest management protocol. Depending on the time available and infestation conditions, the success of some treatments can improve if sublethal heat is implemented prior to the onset of more conventional pest control measures.

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Potential population growth and harmful effects on humans from bed bug populations exposed to different feeding regimes

Cited by 9 publications

References 25 publications

A review of data on laboratory colonies of bed bugs (Cimicidae), an insect of emerging medical relevance

A review of data on laboratory colonies of bed bugs (Cimicidae), an insect of emerging medical relevance

Questing activity in bed bug populations: male and female responses to host signals

Temperature stress deteriorates bed bug (Cimex lectularius) populations through decreased survival, fecundity and offspring success

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