title: Fecundity, nymphal development and longevity of field-collected tropical bedbugs, Cimex hemipterus.
abstract: This study examined the fecundity, oviposition, nymphal development and longevity of field-collected samples of the tropical bedbug, Cimex hemipterus (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). Under environmental conditions of 26+/-2 degrees C, 70 +/- 5% relative humidity and a 12-h photoperiod, with bloodmeals provided by a human host, six strains of tropical bedbug had a fecundity of up to 50 eggs per lifetime, over 11-14 oviposition cycles. Increased feeding frequency improved fecundity. After feeding and mating, adult females normally took 2-3 days to produce a first batch of eggs. The oviposition period lasted 2-7 days before cessation of the oviposition cycle. The egg incubation period usually lasted 5-7 days before the emergence of first instars. The nymphs underwent five stadia (the first four of which each took 3-4 days, whereas the last took 4-5 days) before becoming adults at a sex ratio of 1 : 1. More than five bloodmeals were required by the nymphs to ensure a successful moult. Unmated adults lived significantly longer than mated adults (P < 0.05). Unmated females lived up to almost 7 months, but the longevity of mated males and females did not differ significantly (P > 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Urban Entomology Laboratory, Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Y-F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: How
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001511:Bedbugs / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D012744:Sex Ratio; D014329:Tropical Climate