Behavioural Responses of Tropical Bed Bug Cimex hemipterus (F.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) to Coloured Harborage (early view)

Abstract

Population of the tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus (F.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), a temporary ectoparasite on both humans and animals, have surged in many tropical countries. Tropical bed bugs preferences when selecting a suitable harborage and oviposition site were investigated. Two-choice and three choice colour assays were conducted to determine whether bed bugs will choose black, red or white coloured harborages. Then, fifty 1st instar were reared in containers containing black, red and white (control) paper served as the harborages and observed for 12 weeks. Both fed and starve male, female and nymph strongly preferred red and black coloured harborage compared to white coloured harborage. Oviposition assays showed that female bed bugs prefered to laid their eggs on red coloured harborages compared to black coloured harborages. Rearing experiment showed that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between final population size of tropical bed bug. However, tropical bed bugs reared in container with red paper (600 ± 89.238) have the highest number of individuals followed by black (473 ± 133.841) and white (485 ± 84.234) paper. Bed bug preference towards coloured harborage provide useful information for those developing new bed bug control method or improving bed bug infestation monitoring devices.