D3002: Don't let the bed bugs bite: Chemical trials for bed bugs from poultry facilities

Monday, November 11, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

VL

Valeria Lee

The Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania

Co-Author(s)

HT

Hannah Tiffin

The Pennsylvania State University
Port Matilda, Pennsylvania
Erika T. Machtinger (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) have experienced a global resurgence, with increasing reports of infestations worldwide. Infestations are harmful to farmers and their poultry, as they decrease animal welfare and lower production, spread to houses and other poultry establishments, and cause a loss of workforce.

Managing bed bugs within a poultry facility is challenging due to the high insecticide resistance of bed bugs, along with difficulties with identifying the presence of bed bugs before their populations reach infestation levels, and because existing bed bug monitoring and control methods which are adapted for places of residence are largely ineffective within a farm setting.

In this study, we aim to evaluate the use of insecticide-treated fabric as a method of bed bug control for poultry facilities. We will test the susceptibility of different bed bug populations to various insecticides and fabrics, as well as evaluate the presence of behavioral resistance in bed bugs of multiple origins.