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

Abstract

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.

Repellency of Naturally Occurring or Related Compounds, DEET, and Para-Menthane-3,8-Diol to Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

“…Female bed bugs may leave refuges more frequently than males (Pfiester et al 2009, Aak et al 2014. In our studies, more males remained on the refuges the morning after their placement in the arena, suggesting that females may leave more frequently in search of food or new refuges as reported previously.…”

“…Numbers of male and female bed bugs resting in or on each bag and elsewhere in the arena were counted the following morning at 8:30 to 9:00 am. Female bed bugs may leave refuges sooner and more frequently than males (Pfiester et al 2009, Aak et al 2014. We assessed whether female bed bugs left the refuges more frequently than males.…”

Feel the heat: Activation, orientation, and feeding responses of bed bugs to targets at different temperatures

“…Therefore, host temperature may serve as an important short-range cue under these conditions, although long-range attraction to larger bodies of heat should be evaluated. Other host-associated cues known to attract bed bugs, such as CO 2 ) and body odors (Aak et al, 2014;Liu and Liu, 2015;Rivnay, 1932), are more likely to serve as longrange attractants.…”

Ability of bed bug (Hemiptera:Cimicidae) defensive secretions (E)‐2‐hexenal and (E)‐2‐octenal to attract adults of the common bed bugCimex lectularius

“…Various bed bug 'monitors' have also been developed that operate either without a lure or bait (passive) or with an attractant, such as heat, carbon dioxide or other host-specific cues (active) (Vaidyanathan & Feldlaufer, 2013). Descriptions are available for active monitors using either host-specific cues, such as carbon dioxide, octenol and lactic acid (Wang et al, 2011;Singh et al, 2012;Aak et al, 2014), or bed bug-derived components from scent glands and faecal excrement (Siljander et al, 2008;Olson et al, 2009;Weeks et al, 2013). Although numerous monitors have been developed, no type (passive or active) has gained widespread use, primarily because of inconsistencies under field conditions (Weeks et al, 2011a).…”