title: Chemically Mediated Arrestment of the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, by Volatiles Associated with Exuviae of Conspecifics.
abstract: Extracts of the exuviae (cast skins) of nymphal bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) were analyzed for volatile compounds that might contribute to arrestment of adult bed bugs. Four volatile aldehydes, (E)-2-hexenal, 4-oxo-(E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal, and 4-oxo-(E)-2-octenal were consistently detected in the headspace of freshly shed exuviae regardless of the developmental stages from which the exuviae were obtained. Quantification of the aldehydes in the solvent extracts of homogenized fresh, 45- or 99-d aged 5th instar exuviae indicated that the aldehydes are present in the exuviae and dissipate over time, through evaporation or degradation. Microscopic observation of the fifth instar exuviae indicated that the dorsal abdominal glands on the exuviae maintained their pocket-like structures with gland reservoirs, within which the aldehydes might be retained. Two-choice olfactometer studies with the volatiles from exuviae or a synthetic blend mimicking the volatiles indicated that adult bed bugs tend to settle close to sources of the aldehydes. Our results imply that the presence and accumulation of bed bug exuviae and the aldehydes volatilizing from the exuviae might mediate bed bugs' interaction with their microhabitats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dong-Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Media & Cultural Studies, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hoeun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vo
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knyshov
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001511:Bedbugs / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001773:Blood Cells; D009758:Nymph / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D064367:Olfactometry; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012543:Scent Glands / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: C506591:4-oxo-(E)-2-hexenal; C506590:4-oxo-2-octenal; D000447:Aldehydes; D010675:Pheromones; C057348:2-octenal; C051750:2-hexenal