Population Dynamics Of Tropical Bed Bug (Cimex Hemipterus F.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Fed On Different Human Blood Types
Loading...
Date
2016-05
Authors
Abd Rahim, Abd Hafis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Bed bug is an ectoparasite that feed exclusively on blood. All stages of nymphs require a blood meal before molting, while adults need it for reproduction. Artificial feeding system is an alternative way to feed these insects by using expired human blood supplies from the hospital blood bank. The effects of three types of blood source composition; whole blood, red blood cells and red blood cells mixed with plasma, were investigated to determine the suitable blood source that could be used to feed the bed bugs, with comparison to the direct feeding method. Observations included counts of the number of live and dead individuals, and number of adults produced. Red blood cells caused 72.7% of bed bugs died, followed by red blood cells mixed with plasma (52%) and whole blood (48.7%). There was a significant difference in number of live individuals after bed bug being fed for seven weeks between the four blood sources. However, there are no significant difference between the number of live individuals fed on the three blood compositions (whole blood, red blood cells and red blood cells mixed with plasma). Life table of bed bugs fed through an artificial feeding system according to the human blood type, A, B, AB and O, were constructed. The number of individuals that lived (lx) were counted and recorded daily as well as the number of eggs laid. Statistical analysis for the development of immature stages showed that no significant difference was observed for the development from egg to emergence of adult when fed on blood type A, B, O and AB.
Age specific life table were constructed for tropical bed bugs reared on blood type A and AB. Bed bugs reared on blood type A and AB had a life expectancy of 88 and 106 days respectively from the egg stage. The net reproductive rate (R0), mean generation time (T), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), and doubling time (DT) for bed bugs reared on blood type A were 12.24, 67.84, 0.037, 1.038 and 18.73, respectively. On the other hand, the same parameters calculated for bed bugs reared on blood type AB produced R0 = 12.58, T = 83.36, rm = 0.030, λ = 1.030 and DT = 23.10. Three parts of the body; forearm, upper arm, and shoulder were exposed to bed bug bites to determine the type of skin reactions manifestation and the time taken for the skin reactions to disappear. Three types of skin reactions, itch, wheal and lesion, were recorded. There was no significant difference between the time taken for skin reactions to disappear for the three body parts, as well as between the number of individual and gender. However, some differences were observed for skin reactions to disappear where lesions on the shoulder would last longer than forearm and upper arm. Skin reactions from five individuals of bed bugs generated skin reactions that took longer time to disappear compared to one and three individuals of bed bugs.
Description
Keywords
Bed bug is an ectoparasite that feed , exclusively on blood.