Host-Seeking Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius
The reemergence of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, has recently spawned a frenzy of public, media, and academic attention. In response to the growing rate of infestation, considerable work has been focused on identifying the various host cues utilized by the bed bug in search of a meal. Mos...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2011-03-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/2/1/22/ |
| _version_ | 1818823999422988288 |
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| author | Vernard R. Lewis James T. Suchy |
| author_facet | Vernard R. Lewis James T. Suchy |
| author_sort | Vernard R. Lewis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The reemergence of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, has recently spawned a frenzy of public, media, and academic attention. In response to the growing rate of infestation, considerable work has been focused on identifying the various host cues utilized by the bed bug in search of a meal. Most of these behavioral studies examine movement within a confined environment, such as a Petri dish. This has prevented a more complete understanding of the insect’s host-seeking process. This work describes a novel method for studying host-seeking behavior, using various movement parameters, in a time-lapse photography system. With the use of human breath as an attractant, we qualitatively and quantitatively assessed how bed bugs navigate their environment between its harborage and the host. Levels of behavioral activity varied dramatically between bed bugs in the presence and absence of host odor. Bed bugs demonstrated not simply activation, but attraction to the chemical components of breath. Localized, stop-start host-seeking behavior or alternating periods of movement and pause were observed among bed bugs placed in the environment void of human breath, while those exposed to human breath demonstrated long range, stop-start host-seeking behavior. A more comprehensive understanding of bed bug host-seeking can lead to the development of traps and monitors that account for unique subtleties in their behavior. The time-lapse photography system uses a large, artificial environment and could also be employed to study other aspects of the insect’s behavioral patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:48:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-493eec41e9b041f982fc1c1178bdbd76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:48:54Z |
| publishDate | 2011-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-493eec41e9b041f982fc1c1178bdbd762022-12-21T20:47:05ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502011-03-0121223510.3390/insects2010022Host-Seeking Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectulariusVernard R. LewisJames T. SuchyThe reemergence of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, has recently spawned a frenzy of public, media, and academic attention. In response to the growing rate of infestation, considerable work has been focused on identifying the various host cues utilized by the bed bug in search of a meal. Most of these behavioral studies examine movement within a confined environment, such as a Petri dish. This has prevented a more complete understanding of the insect’s host-seeking process. This work describes a novel method for studying host-seeking behavior, using various movement parameters, in a time-lapse photography system. With the use of human breath as an attractant, we qualitatively and quantitatively assessed how bed bugs navigate their environment between its harborage and the host. Levels of behavioral activity varied dramatically between bed bugs in the presence and absence of host odor. Bed bugs demonstrated not simply activation, but attraction to the chemical components of breath. Localized, stop-start host-seeking behavior or alternating periods of movement and pause were observed among bed bugs placed in the environment void of human breath, while those exposed to human breath demonstrated long range, stop-start host-seeking behavior. A more comprehensive understanding of bed bug host-seeking can lead to the development of traps and monitors that account for unique subtleties in their behavior. The time-lapse photography system uses a large, artificial environment and could also be employed to study other aspects of the insect’s behavioral patterns.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/2/1/22/Cimex lectulariusbed bughost-seekingbehaviormovementtime-lapse photography |
| spellingShingle | Vernard R. Lewis James T. Suchy Host-Seeking Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius Insects Cimex lectularius bed bug host-seeking behavior movement time-lapse photography |
| title | Host-Seeking Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius |
| title_full | Host-Seeking Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius |
| title_fullStr | Host-Seeking Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius |
| title_full_unstemmed | Host-Seeking Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius |
| title_short | Host-Seeking Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius |
| title_sort | host seeking behavior in the bed bug cimex lectularius |
| topic | Cimex lectularius bed bug host-seeking behavior movement time-lapse photography |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/2/1/22/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vernardrlewis hostseekingbehaviorinthebedbugcimexlectularius AT jamestsuchy hostseekingbehaviorinthebedbugcimexlectularius |