Abstract
Knowledge of bed bug development under varying conditions can lead to more sophisticated management techniques. Development rate, age and stage-specific life tables were compared for a laboratory strain (HS) and field strain (ECL-05) of bed bug Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) reared on two blood regimens: human or rabbit blood. Harlan and ECL-05 bed bugs reared on human blood had a life expectancy of 207 and 208 days respectively from the egg stage. Egg to adult development of HS bed bugs reared on human blood (~35 days) was significantly longer than that of the ECL-05 strain (~33 days) in the third, fourth, and fifth instars. The HS and ECL-05 bed bugs reared on rabbit blood had a life expectancy of 149 and 174 days respectively. Egg to adult development time of HS on rabbit blood (~52 days) was significantly longer than ECL-05 (~37 days) in every instar, and HS total life span was significantly shorter compared to ECL-05. Developmental differences based on strain and blood regimen suggest rabbit blood is an inferior blood source for colony maintenance, and strain has variable effects on bed bug development. Findings suggest that blood regimen should strongly be considered in bed bug colony maintenance.
Highlights
Infestations of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, have been on the rise across the UnitedStates, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia over the past ten years [1±6]
The survivorship of both HS and ECL-05 strains of Cimex lectularius are illustrated in abridged form in Tables 1 and 2
While the HS bed bugs reared on human blood have a life expectancy of 207 days in the egg stage, ECL-05 bed bugs reared on human blood have an ex of
Summary
Infestations of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, have been on the rise across the UnitedStates, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia over the past ten years [1±6]. Unlike other hematophagous insects, including mosquitoes, tsetse flies, lice, fleas, and assassin bugs, bed bugs are not known to vector any human pathogen [8,9]. Their presence is known to create quality-of-life concerns [7] including allergic reactions to bites, secondary infections, anxiety, insomnia, and deteriorating mental health conditions [10±12]. Bed bugs have five immature stages prior to reaching adulthood, and a blood meal is required for growth and development through each stage. Wild bed bug populations have been known to feed on the blood of several species of birds [13,14] and bats [15±17]. The bed bug has been successfully reared on chicken blood [18±20], guinea pig blood [21,22], and rabbit blood [8,23,24]
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