Leaf-derived entrapment material captures more bed bugs than selected commercial monitoring devices in field experiments (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

10:00 AM – 10:12 AM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 223, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

Jorge Bustamante, Jr. (he/him/his)

Postdoctoral researcher
University of California
Riverside, California

Co-Author(s)

PL

Patrick Liu

Graduate Student researcher
University of California
Tustin, California
KC

Kathleen Campbell

University of California
Riverside, California
Andrew Mason Sutherland, BCE

Urban IPM Advisor
University of California
Hayward, California
Dong-Hwan Choe

Associated CE Specialist / Associate Professor
University of California
Riverside, California
CL

Catherine Loudon

Vice Chair & Senior Lecturer SOE
University of California
Irvine, California

We evaluated the performance of a novel leaf-derived entrapment material (LDEM) compared to selected commercially available bed bug traps and monitoring devices in low-income and senior housing. The leaf-derived material was assessed against a commercially available pitfall trap and a commercially available sticky trap. A total of 37 rooms had traps deployed and successfully collected. Four different traps were deployed in each room, one for each corner of the resting surface (i.e., a bed or a sofa chair). The traps were a commercially available pitfall trap, a commercially available sticky trap, a modified sticky trap with the LDEM in place of the sticky surface, and a flat piece of the LDEM. Trials lasted for 7-8 days. After collection, the number of bed bugs and other insects entrapped were tallied. Overall, both trap types incorporating the LDEM outperformed the commercially available traps. The commercially available pitfall trap captured an average of 2.2 bugs per room (range: 0-23, n = 32 rooms). The commercially available sticky trap captured an average of 0.9 bugs per room (range: 0-10, n = 37 rooms). The modified sticky trap, which used a LDEM instead of the sticky surface, captured an average of 5.9 bugs per room (range: 0-99, n = 36 rooms). Finally, the flat piece of LDEM trap captured an average of 4.6 bugs per room (range: 0-69, n = 33 rooms). Practical implications and incorporation of the leaf-derived entrapment material into integrated pest management programs will be discussed.