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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #344689
Research Project: Prevention of Arthropod Bites

Location: Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory

Title: Bioassays of flonicamid against the common bed bug (Hemiptera: cimicidae) show no mortality or feeding inhibition after treatment

Author
item Feldlaufer, Mark

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/24/2017
Publication Date: 7/1/2018
Citation: Feldlaufer, M.F. 2018. Bioassays of flonicamid against the common bed bug (Hemiptera: cimicidae) show no mortality or feeding inhibition after treatment. Journal of Entomological Science. 53(3):325-332.

Interpretive Summary: The common bed bug is an obligate blood-feeding insect that attacks primarily humans. Since many populations of bed bugs are resistant to the chemicals being used to control them, new chemicals are always in demand to control this blood-sucking pest. This laboratory study evaluated a chemical that has proven effective in controlling agricultural insect pests that are related to bed bugs. However, evaluation of this chemical against bed bugs, by spraying and feeding indicated it would be ineffective in a bed bug control program. This information will be useful to federal, university, and industry people trying to design effective control procedures for bed bugs, as well as personnel attempting to eliminate and control bed bug infestations.

Technical Abstract: Flonicamid is a systemic pesticide that inhibits the feeding of certain greenhouse pest and certain hemipteran pests of agricultural crops. In a laboratory study directed at the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.), flonicamid was evaluated for its ability to either kill or inhibit the feeding of this blood-sucking pest. Applied topically (by spray), as a residual (to bed bug harborages), or fed directly to bed bugs by incorporating the insecticide into the bloodmeal, mortality assessments were made, and surviving bed bugs were given the opportunity to feed on untreated blood. At the recommended label rates and at rates that approached the solubility of the flonicamid product in water, it was concluded that this insecticide would be ineffective in a bed bug control program.