Natural products & the bed bug problem in the changing climate: Lessons to learn

Climate change is the most misunderstood phenomena that is shifting the insect pests’ behavior that minor pests are becoming major and major becoming minors. Insects can remarkably adapt to changing climate in a short time. This behavior can cause massive qualitative and quantitative losses to non-targeted crops & urban sector.Cimex lectularius L., popularly known bed bug, is a hematophagous pest that feeds upon human blood. Generally considered nocturnal, hiding in cracks, crevices, folding of furniture makes its detection & control difficult. Pesticides, especially pyrethroids, dominated the market as sole solution through contact & residual treatment. Over time bed bug developed resistance against the pyrethroids. Complexity of Natural products (NPs) offered control to the pyrethroid resistant bed bug. But sourcing the natural product without compromising the ecosystem is another huge task. The way the climate is changing, the world is witnessing more tropical climate leaves a question mark for urban pests shifting especially the bed bug. This change also impacts the plant chemical profile as well as source NPs. A certain plant can’t guarantee the same chemical profile in the changing climate & so the toxicity induced by them. We will navigate through certain models to manage bed bugs in combination with the natural products & chemical pesticides. Is it time for Hybrid IPM?