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10-Minute Presentation

Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

10-min: MUVE, Urban Entomology and Pest Control 2

Using a biomimetic material to stop bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) in their tracks: Effects of differences in horizontal and vertical locomotion

Tuesday, November 12, 2024
9:48 AM – 10:00 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 223, PCC
Oral Presentation
The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is a pervasive human pest that can be found globally. Their resistance to many insecticides has facilitated their increased spread and infestation rates. Leaves from the bean plant, Phaseolus vulgaris L., have been historically used to capture bed bugs in Balkan countries. However, the leaves rapidly desiccate, reducing their utility. A new leaf-inspired trapping material has been developed, that could potentially be used as a non-insecticidal alternative in the management of bed bugs. In this study, we tested the efficacy of the leaf-inspired trapping material in capturing bed bugs in both horizontal and vertical orientations, using fresh bean leaves as a positive control. Leaf-inspired trapping material as well as fresh leaves were able to capture bed bugs in both horizontal and vertical orientations, although not all stages of bed bugs were evaluated for all experimental combinations. The leaf-inspired trapping material was just as effective as the fresh leaves in the vertical  orientation. In the horizontal orientation, trapping material and fresh leaves both captured bed bugs but differed in effectiveness. Nymphal stages of bed bugs were shown to be particularly susceptible to the material.  We have identified kinematic differences in vertical and horizontal locomotion that may explain these differences in entrapment. Specifically, the stance, or the placement of the tarsi with respect to the body axis was significantly different during vertical locomotion compared with horizontal locomotion.