Host Searching and Aggregation Activity of Recently Fed and Unfed Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius L.)

Matthew D Reis,Dini M Miller

doi:10.3390/insects2020186

Abstract

Groups of starved, virgin adult male or female bed bugs were stimulated to search for a host by the presence of a heated artificial feeder. Some of the bed bug groups were allowed to obtain a blood meal and some were not. After the removal of the feeder, bed bugs were observed throughout the scotophase to record their searching and aggregation behavior. Groups of male and female bed bugs that were unable to obtain a blood meal continued to search in the arena for the majority of the scotophase. Bed bugs that were able to obtain a blood meal returned to their shelter to aggregate 30 min after feeding. Overall, the proportion of bed bugs aggregating in shelters during the scotophase was significantly greater for those that had fed successfully than those that had not. However, all bed bugs, regardless of feeding status, began to return to shelters to aggregate 2 h prior to the photophase.

Highlights

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., has five immature life stages, each requiring a blood meal in order to develop into the instar
For a considerable portion of the scotophase (23:00–05:00) less than 80% of the unfed male bed bugs were inside the shelter
Instead, unfed male bed bugs were observed moving around the arena until 06:00, after which time they began returning to the shelter

Summary

Introduction

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., has five immature life stages, each requiring a blood meal in order to develop into the instar. Hungry bed bugs are stimulated to feed when they detect an increase in ambient CO2. When a human enters an infested room and lies down to rest, the ambient CO2 in the room begins to increase. This increase in CO2 stimulates the bed bug to leave the harborage and begin searching. When the bed bug is near the host, the host’s body heat serves as an additional directional cue. Once in contact with the host, the bed bug begins to feed. The bed bug will leave the host’s body and presumably return to a harborage to aggregate with other bed bugs [2]

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Conclusion