A Two Pronged Approach to the Detection of Cimex Lectularius (common bed bug) Using Novel Bed Bug Proteins

Transcriptomics of the Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)

BACKGROUND Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are blood-feeding insects poised to become one of the major pests in households throughout the United States. Resistance of C. lectularius to insecticides/pesticides is one factor thought to be involved in its sudden resurgence. Despite its high-impact status, scant knowledge exists at the genomic level for C. lectularius. Hence, we subjected the C. lectu...

Human Odorant Reception in the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius

The common bed bug Cimex lectularius is a temporary ectoparasite on humans and currently resurgent in many developed countries. The ability of bed bugs to detect human odorants in the environment is critical for their host-seeking behavior. This study deciphered the chemical basis of host detection by investigating the neuronal response of olfactory sensilla to 104 human odorants using single s...

Human Odorant Reception in the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius Abbreviated title: Human Odorant Reception in the Common Bed Bug

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. Most of these behavioral studies examine movement within a confined environment, such as a Petri dis...

Behavioral Responses of the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, to Insecticide Dusts

Bed bugs have reemerged recently as a serious and growing problem not only in North America but in many parts of the world. These insects have become the most challenging pest to control in urban environments. Residual insecticides are the most common methods used for bed bug control; however, insecticide resistance limits the efficacy of treatments. Desiccant dusts have emerged as a good optio...