Behavioral effects of sublethal exposure to a combination of β-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L.
BACKGROUND
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are blood-feeding insect pests with public health relevance. Their rapid evolution of resistance to pyrethroids has prompted a shift to combination products that include both a pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticide. Insecticides have both a direct impact on mortality and an indirect effect on behavior. Thus, we assessed the sublethal effects of a widely used combination product containing β-cyfluthrin (a pyrethroid) and imidacloprid (a neonicotinoid), as unexpected behavioral changes after exposure have been known to affect efficacy of insecticides.


RESULTS
We found that bed bugs exposed to sublethal doses of a combination product containing β-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid did not feed as effectively as untreated bugs. Their locomotion behavior was also reduced. However, aggregation in response to the presence of conspecific harborages was not affected by sublethal exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Bed bugs exhibit behavioral changes after sublethal exposure to a combination product that could affect pest management choices and outcomes. A reduction in host-finding efficiency and feeding could complement the lethal effects of the insecticide. Alternatively, reduced locomotion following exposure could limit ongoing contact with insecticide deposits. However, an overall reduction in movement indicates that treatments are unlikely to cause dispersal of bugs to adjacent dwellings. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Sydney E
SE
Crawley
Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.|Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Lubbock, TX, USA.
Katelyn A
KA
Kowles
Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Jennifer R
JR
Gordon
Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Michael F
MF
Potter
Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Kenneth F
KF
Haynes
D000818:Animals; D001511:Bedbugs / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007093:Imidazoles; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009570:Nitriles; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D010675:Pheromones; D011722:Pyrethrins; C082359:imidacloprid; C052570:cyfluthrin
bed bugs; behavior; insecticide; pest control; sublethal exposure