Aggregation Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex Lectularius L
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Entomology Entomology 2020 Aggregation Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius L. Paul D. Baker University of Kentucky, [email protected] Author ORCID Identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3394-6850 Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2020.089 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Baker, Paul D., "Aggregation Behavior in the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius L." (2020). Theses and Dissertations--Entomology. 50. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/entomology_etds/50 This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Entomology by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Paul D. Baker, Student Dr. Kenneth F. Haynes, Major Professor Dr. Kenneth F. Haynes, Director of Graduate Studies AGGREGATION BEHAVIOR IN THE BED BUG, CIMEX LECTULARIUS L. ________________________________________ THESIS ________________________________________ A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky By Paul D. Baker Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Kenneth F. Haynes, Professor of Entomology Lexington, Kentucky 2020 Copyright © Paul D. Baker 2020 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3394-6850 ABSTRACT OF THESIS AGGREGATION BEHAVIOR IN THE BED BUG, CIMEX LECTULARIUS L. The bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., is a common household pest that feeds on the blood of its human hosts. Unlike many other hematophagic arthropods, bed bugs have not demonstrated the ability to vector disease; yet its presence in a household often leads to fear and anxiety amongst its human host victims. Bed bugs spend the majority of their time aggregating in enclosed and hidden locations, making it difficult to detect and eradicate them. One of the significant mediators of aggregation behavior is an aggregation pheromone. The pheromone has been identified to be six chemical compounds, five volatile compounds that attract conspecific bed bugs to an aggregation, and a sixth compound, histamine, that arrests them at the aggregation location. Subtle variations in the semiochemical signature between different life stages of the bed bug may influence the make-up and structure of individual aggregations. There also appears to be differences in aggregation behavior between different populations of bed bugs. My research focuses on determining how aggregation behavior varies between different life stages of the bed bug, and between different populations of bed bugs. I developed a method to quantify aggregation and found distinct differences in aggregation between populations of bed bugs, but not between sexes. I then measured the production of histamine between life stages and determined that histamine is produced by all life stages, starting at low levels with first instars, and gradually increasing to adults, with females producing more histamine than males. Finally, I conducted a series of choice tests to compare the semiochemical signal produced by males, females or fifth instars in their feces and compared their responses to aggregation cues from each other. All life stages tested responded to the fecal extracts over controls, except males who did not significantly choose female extracts over a control. When given a choice between fecal extracts between two different life stages, all groups responded equally to the extracts, with the exception that females preferred female fecal extracts over fifth instar extracts. Overall, these studies demonstrate differences in aggregation behavior between populations of bed bugs, but little support for differences between life stages within a population. KEYWORDS: Cimex lectularius, bed bug, behavior, semiochemical, aggregation, histamine Paul D. Baker (Name of Student) 04/22/2020 Date AGGREGATION BEHAVIOR IN THE BED BUG, CIMEX LECTULARIUS L. By Paul D. Baker Kenneth F. Haynes Director of Thesis Kenneth F. Haynes Director of Graduate Studies 04/22/2020 Date DEDICATION I dedicate this paper to my father, Verlyn Baker, who passed away while I was working toward this degree. His moral character and work ethic provided the example that helped form my own character. He also may be the only member of my family who would have understood why I went back to school to earn this degree this late in my life. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following thesis, while an individual work, benefited from the insights and direction of several people. First, I would like to thank my professor, Dr. Kenneth Haynes, for the opportunity to work in his lab. His kindness and sincerity are greatly appreciated. Next, I wish to thank the other members of my Thesis Committee: Dr. Michael Potter, and Dr. Zachary DeVries. I would also like to thank Dr. Daniel Potter, who has been a great cheerleader, mentor and confidant during the more challenging periods of my studies here at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Reddy Palli was also a valuable help when I needed to find a laboratory to study in that was a match to my interests and temperament. Dr. Dan Young at the University of Wisconsin, who taught the first entomology course I ever took, was also a great inspiration to continue my childhood dream to become an entomologist. Dr. Eric Chapman has been a friend and a teacher to me during my years here at the University of Kentucky Entomology department. He taught me almost everything I know about collecting and preserving insects. My favorite times here have been the long weekend trips to exotic locales to camp, enjoy the outdoors and perhaps collect a few new beetles. I would also like to thank all the various running clubs and the people in them that I ran with during the five years I have been living here in Lexington, Kentucky: the Pirate Runners of Kentucky, Todds Road Stumblers, West Sixth Run Club and the Bluegrass Runners. Their companionship and friendship got me through a lot of failed experiments. iii This research was supported by gifts from various companies within the pest management industry, as well as annual grants (2016 through 2020) from the Kentucky Pest Management Association. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix BED BUG BEHAVIOR AND POPULATION GENETICS ................. 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Household and Public Health Pest .................................................................................. 2 Bed Bug Behavior ........................................................................................................... 4 Sensory Limitations of Bed Bugs ................................................................................... 4 Mating Behavior ............................................................................................................. 5 Host-seeking Behavior .................................................................................................... 6 Aggregation Behavior ..................................................................................................... 7 Semiochemical Communication ..................................................................................... 8 Aggregation Pheromone ................................................................................................. 9 Alarm Pheromone ......................................................................................................... 10 Semiochemical