Historical and Contemporary Control Options Against Bed Bugs,Cimexspp.

Abstract

Bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) are an important group of obligate hematophagous urban insect pests. The global resurgence of bed bugs, involving the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., and the tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus (F.), over the past two decades is believed to be primarily due to the development of insecticide resistance, along with global travel and poor pest management, which have contributed to their spread. This review examines and synthesizes the literature on bed bug origins and their global spread and the literature on historical and contemporary control options. This includes bed bug prevention, detection and monitoring, nonchemical and chemical control methodologies (and their limitations), and potential future control options. Future research needs are highlighted, especially the factors behind the modern resurgence, the necessity of identifying differences between the two bed bug species relevant to control, and the need to improve insecticide test protocols and management strategies. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Entomology, Volume 68 is January 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Do bed bugs transmit human viruses, or do humans transmit bed bug viruses? A worldwide survey of the bed bug RNA virosphere

“…Bed bugs are a worldwide urban pest, that have undergone population resurgence for the last 20-30 years. Although their capacity to transmit human disease remains unknown, interest in their vector competence is high because of the increasing frequency in outbreaks (Doggett & Lee, 2023). We did not detect any known human viruses, but our study supports that metatranscriptomic surveillance is a useful technique to detect what known or emerging pathogens bed bugs could potentially transmit.…”

“…Several studies have been conducted to assess if bed bugs could transmit human pathogens, but transmission in the wild has not been documented (Blakely et al, 2018; El Hamzaoui et al, 2019; Goddard & deShazo, 2009; Leulmi et al, 2015; Pietri, 2020). Considering the consistent resurgence of bed bug populations leading to outbreaks in the last 20-30 years, it is important to understand what microbes they harbor along with their potential as vectors (Davies et al, 2012; Doggett & Lee, 2023; Lewis et al, 2023).…”

Volatile Organic Compounds: A Promising Tool for Bed Bug Detection

“…In the recent decades, monitoring methods/devices were the subject of several investigations, and multiple devices in combination with chemical or biochemical attractants have been developed for detecting bed bugs [ 19 , 20 ]. Thus, there has been increased interest in developing alternative or supplemental detection/monitoring methods.…”

Biological control of Cimex lectularius with Beauveria bassiana: Effects of substrate, dosage, application strategy, and bed bug physiology

“…However, increased travel, along with widespread resistance against commonly used pesticides (e.g., pyrethroids, organophosphates, neonicotinoids, and organochlorines) has allowed bed bugs to make a significant resurgence as a nuisance pest worldwide 11,22 . Their economic impact is substantial, and bed bugs cause both direct costs through control efforts and indirect costs through reputational loss or by tying up resources in the management of apartment buildings, businesses, organizations, and public services 23–25 . This has called for the full extent of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies which rely on combinations of several methods to prevent and eradicate infestations 25–28 .…”