Widespread distribution of knockdown resistance mutations in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), populations in the United States

Abstract

We previously reported high deltamethrin resistance in bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, collected from multiple areas of the United States (Romero et al., 2007). Recently, two mutations, the Valine to Leucine mutation (V419L) and the Leucine to Isoleucine mutation (L925I) in voltagegated sodium channel a-subunit gene, had been identified to be responsible for knockdown resistance (kdr) to deltamethrin in bed bugs collected from New York (Yoon et al., 2008). The current study was undertaken to investigate the distribution of these two kdr mutations in 110 bed bug populations collected in the United States. Out of the 17 bed bug populations that were assayed for deltamethrin susceptibility, two resistant populations collected in the Cincinnati area and three deltamethrin-susceptible lab colonies showed neither of the two reported mutations (haplotype A). The remaining 12 populations contained L925I or both V419L and L925I mutations in voltage-gated sodium channel a-subunit gene (haplotypes B&C). In 93 populations that were not assayed for deltamethrin susceptibility, 12 contained neither of the two mutations (haplotype A) and 81 contained L925I or V419L or both mutations (haplotypes B-D). Thus, 88% of the bed bug populations collected showed target-site mutations. These data suggest that

Insecticidal activity of 8 household and hygiene insecticides against bedbug (Cimex lectularius)

“…In addition, insecticide-resistant populations of the bedbugs (C. lectularius and C. hemipterus) have been reported around the world (Kyong et al, 2008, Romero et al, 2007, Karunaratne et al, 2006, Myamba et al, 2002, Zhu et al, 2010 2009). It would be necessary to evaluate the insecticides or commercial products against field-collected populations of bedbugs in Japan, in some cases in the fields.…”

Mitochondrial DNA and morphology show independent evolutionary histories of bedbug Cimex lectularius (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) on bats and humans

“…Since some of the host shifts were probably relatively recent (Povolný and Usinger 1966;Usinger 1966), the bedbug represents an optimal model for a study on initial stages of host specialization. Furthermore, study of the bedbug as a reemerging human pest (e.g., Doggett et al 2004;Hwang et al 2005;Reinhardt and Siva-Jothy 2007;Romero et al 2007;Reinhardt et al 2008;Zhu et al 2010) is particularly topical, and understanding its biology is essential for its control.…”

Entrapment of bed bugs by leaf trichomes inspires microfabrication of biomimetic surfaces

“…This physical entrapment is a source of inspiration in the development of new and sustainable methods to control the burgeoning numbers of bed bugs. A purely physical management method has the additional advantage that it would avoid the problem of pesticide resistance that has been documented extensively for this insect [14][15][16][17].…”