Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T12:16:11.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A bioassay for studying behavioural responses of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) to bed bug-derived volatiles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2010

E.N.I. Weeks ,
J.G. Logan ,
S.A. Gezan ,
C.M. Woodcock ,
M.A. Birkett ,
J.A. Pickett  and
M.M. Cameron
E.N.I. Weeks*
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Pest and Disease Management, Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK, AL5 2JQ Disease Control and Vector Biology Unit, Department of Infectious Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK, WC1E 7HT
J.G. Logan
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Pest and Disease Management, Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK, AL5 2JQ
S.A. Gezan
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Pest and Disease Management, Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK, AL5 2JQ
C.M. Woodcock
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Pest and Disease Management, Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK, AL5 2JQ
M.A. Birkett
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Pest and Disease Management, Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK, AL5 2JQ
J.A. Pickett
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Pest and Disease Management, Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK, AL5 2JQ
M.M. Cameron
Affiliation:
Disease Control and Vector Biology Unit, Department of Infectious Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK, WC1E 7HT
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: +44 1582 762595 E-mail: emma.weeks@bbsrc.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), has recently re-emerged in increasing numbers, distribution and intensity of infestation in many countries. Current control relies on the application of residual pesticides; but, due to the development of insecticide resistance, there is a need for new tools and techniques. Semiochemicals (behaviour and physiology modifying chemicals) could be exploited for management of bed bugs. However, in order to identify semiochemicals that can be utilised in monitoring or control, a suitable olfactometer is needed that enables the study of the responses of bed bugs to volatile chemicals. Previous studies have used olfactometers that do not separate olfactory responses from responses to physical contact. In this study, a still-air olfactometer was used to measure behavioural responses to different bed bug-derived volatiles presented in an odour pot. Bed bugs were significantly more likely to visit the area above the odour pot first, and more frequently, in the presence of volatiles from bed bug-exposed paper but not in the presence of volatiles from conspecific bed bugs. Bed bug activity was found to be dependent on the presence of the volatiles from bed bug-exposed paper, the time during the scotophase and the sex of the insect being tested. The still-air olfactometer could be used to test putative semiochemicals, which would allow an understanding of their behavioural role in bed bug ecology. Ultimately, this could lead to the identification of new semiochemical tools for bed bug monitoring and control.

Keywords

Cimex lectulariusaggregationolfactometerbehavioursemiochemical
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 101 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 1 - 8
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aboul-Nasr, A.E. & Erakey, M.A.S. (1968a) The effect of contact and gravity reactions upon the bed-bug, Cimex lectularius L. Bulletin Societe Entomologue d'Egypte 52, 363–370.Google Scholar
Aboul-Nasr, A.E. & Erakey, M.A.S. (1968b) Behaviour and sensory physiology of the bed-bug, Cimex lectularius L., to some environmental factors: chemoreception (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). Bulletin Societe Entomologue d'Egypte 52, 353–362.Google Scholar
Benoit, J.B., Del Grosso, N.A., Yoder, J.A. & Denlinger, D.L. (2007) Resistance to dehydration between bouts of blood feeding in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is enhanced by water conservation, aggregation, and quiescence. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 76, 987–993.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boase, C. (2004) Bed-bugs – reclaiming our cities. Biologist 51, 102–103.Google Scholar
Cruz-Lopez, L., Malo, E.A., Rojas, J.C. & Morgan, E.D. (2001) Chemical ecology of triatomine bugs: vectors of Chagas disease. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 15, 351–357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dawson, G., Griffiths, D., Janes, N., Mudd, A., Pickett, J., Wadhams, L. & Woodcock, C. (1987) Identification of an aphid sex pheromone. Nature 325, 614–616.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doggett, S., Geary, M. & Russell, R. (2004) The resurgence of bed bugs in Australia: With notes on their ecology and control. Environmental Health 4, 30–38.Google Scholar
Harlan, H. (2006a) Technical guide 44: bed bugs – importance, biology, and control strategies. 15 pp. Washington, DC, USA, Defense Pest Management Information Analysis Center, Armed Forces Pest Management Board.Google Scholar
Harlan, H.J. (2006b) Bed Bugs 101: the Basics of Cimex lectularius. American Entomologist 52, 99–101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harlan, H. (2007) Bedbug control: Challenging and still evolving. Outlooks on Pest Management 18, 57–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harlan, H., Faulde, M. & Baumann, G. (2008) Bed bugs. pp. 131–154 in Bonnefoy, X., Kampen, H. & Sweeney, K. (Eds) Public Health Significance of Urban Pests. Copenhagen, Denmark, World Health Organisation Europe.Google Scholar
Jones, R.M. (1930) Some effects of temperature and humidity as factors in the biology of the bedbug (Cimex lectularius Linn.). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 23, 105–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levinson, H.Z. & Bar Ilan, A.R. (1971) Assembling and alerting scents produced by the bedbug Cimex lectularius L. Experientia 27, 102–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Levinson, H.Z., Levinson, A.R. & Maschwitz, U. (1974a) Action and composition of alarm pheromone of bedbug Cimex lectularius L. Naturwissenschaften 61, 684–685.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levinson, H.Z., Levinson, A.R., Muller, B. & Steinbrecht, R.A. (1974b) Structure of sensilla, olfactory perception, and behaviour of bedbug, Cimex lectularius, in response to its alarm pheromone. Journal of Insect Physiology 20, 1231–1248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marx, R. (1955) Uber die wirtsfidung und die bedeutung des artspezifischen duftstoffes bei Cimex lectularius Linne. Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde 17, 41–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mellanby, K. (1939) The physiology and activity of the bed-bug (Cimex lectularius) in a natural infestation. Parasitology 31, 200–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montes, C., Cuadrillero, C. & Vilella, D. (2002) Maintenance of a laboratory colony of Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) using an artificial feeding technique. Journal of Medical Entomology 39, 675–679.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moore, D.J. & Miller, D.M. (2009) Field evaluations of insecticide treatment regimens for control of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (L.). Pest Management Science 65, 332–338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Myamba, J., Maxwell, C., Asidi, A. & Curtis, C. (2002) Pyrethroid resistance in tropical bedbugs, Cimex hemipterus, associated with use of treated bednets. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 16, 448–451.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olson, J.F., Moon, R.D. & Kells, S.A. (2009) Off-host aggregation behavior and sensory basis of arrestment by Cimex lectularius (Heteroptera: Cimicidae). Journal of Insect Physiology 55, 580–587.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parashar, B.D., Ganesan, K., Sukumaran, D., Rao, Y.V.S., Veer, V. & Prakash, S. (2003) Aggregation activity induced by excreta extracts in Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). Entomon 28, 215–222.Google Scholar
Payne, R.W., Murray, D.A., Harding, S.A., Baird, D.B. & Soutar, D. (2008) GenStat for Windows (11th Edition) Introduction. In. VSN International, Hemel Hempstead.Google Scholar
Peng, C.W. & Weiss, M.J. (1992) Evidence of an aggregation pheromone in the flea beetle, Phyllotreta crucifereta (Goeze) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 18, 875–884.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Potter, M.F. (2005) A bed bug state of mind: emerging issues in bed bug management. Pest Control Technology 33, 82–85.Google Scholar
Potter, M.F., Romero, A. & Haynes, K.F. (2008) Battling bed bugs in the USA. pp. 401–406 in Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Urban Pests. Robinson, W.H. & Bajomi, D. (Eds) Congress Center, Budapest, 13–16 July 2008, Executive Committee of the International Conference on Urban Pests.Google Scholar
Reinhardt, K. & Silva-Jothy, M.T. (2007) Biology of the bed bugs (Cimicidae). Annual Review of Entomology 52, 351–374.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richards, L., Boase, C., Gezan, S. & Cameron, M. (2009) Are bed bug infestations on the increase within Greater London? Journal of Environmental Health Research 9, 17–24.Google Scholar
Romero, A., Potter, M.F., Potter, D.A. & Haynes, K.F. (2007) Insecticide resistance in the bed bug: A factor in the pest's sudden resurgence? Journal of Medical Entomology 44, 175–178.Google ScholarPubMed
Siljander, E., Penman, D., Harlan, H. & Gries, G. (2007) Evidence for male- and juvenile-specific contact pheromones of the common bed bug Cimex lectularius. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 125, 215–219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siljander, E., Gries, R., Khaskin, G. & Gries, G. (2008) Identification of the airborne aggregation pheromone of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius. Journal of Chemical Ecology 34, 708–718.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sinha, R.N. & Wallace, H.A.H. (1966) Ecology of insect-induced hot spots in stored grain in western Canada. Research in Population Ecology 8, 107–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turchin, P. & Kareiva, P. (1989) Aggregation in Aphis varians – an effective strategy for reducing predation risk. Ecology 70, 1008–1016.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weerakone, I. (2007) Two aspects of the use of insecticidal treated bednets in Tanzanian villages. PhD thesis, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.Google Scholar
Wertheim, B., Van-Baalen, E., Dicke, M. & Vet, L. (2005) Pheromone-mediated aggregation in non-social arthropods: An evolutionary perspective. Annual Review of Entomology 50, 321–346.CrossRefGoogle Scholar