Abstract
In recent years, bed bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) problems have increased dramatically in many parts of the world, leading to a renewed interest in their chemical ecology. Most studies of bed bug semiochemicals have been based on the collection of volatiles over a period of time followed by chemical analysis. Here we present for the first time, a combination of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry and video analysis for real-time measurement of semiochemicals emitted by isolated groups of bed bugs during specific behavioural activities. The most distinct peaks in the proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry recordings were always observed close to the termination of mating attempts, corresponding to the defensive emissions that bed bugs have been suspected to exploit for prevention of unwanted copulations. The main components of these emissions were (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal recorded in ratios between 1∶3 and 3∶1. In the current study, the quantity varied over 1000 fold for both of the compounds with up to 40 µg total release in a single emission. Males also emit defensive compounds due to homosexual copulation attempts by other males, and no significant differences were observed in the ratio or the amount of the two components released from males or females. In summary, this study has demonstrated that combining proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry with video analysis can provide detailed information about semiochemicals emitted during specific behavioural activities.
Highlights
Cimex lectularius L., have lived in human dwellings for thousands of years; even the ancient Egyptians knew about the great annoyance that these blood-sucking ectoparasites may cause [1]
Fragmentation pattern and the relative abundance of fragments measured by the Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) were determined (Table 1) for a range of known and possible bed bug semiochemicals and provided the basis for identification and quantification of compounds released during the bed bug experiments
We have demonstrated the major advantages of PTR-MS analysis combined with video analysis and thermal desorption (TD) gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for descriptive studies on the use of semiochemicals for intra-specific communication in bed bugs
Summary
Cimex lectularius L., have lived in human dwellings for thousands of years; even the ancient Egyptians knew about the great annoyance that these blood-sucking ectoparasites may cause [1]. Collection of volatiles emitted by bed bugs under stress has shown significant differences between females and males: females emit approximately equal amounts of (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal, whereas males emit the two components in a ratio close to 2:1 [7]. Male bed bugs might even attempt to mount late instar nymphs [12] or other males [9]. During such unproductive and, for the receiver, potentially dangerous copulation attempts [9], emission of volatile chemicals has been observed. Indicating that the content of the scent glands (including (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal) function as defence against mounting attempts from males
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