Intraspecific communication of the common bed bug Cimex lectularius Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Intraspecific pheromonal communication was investigated in the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). In dual choice laboratory olfactometer experiments, C. lectularius showed specific preference for paper discs that had been exposed to conspecifics of the same developmental stage. These male- and juvenile-produced contact pheromones may have the contrasting functions of marking refugia for development and growth (juveniles) or mate-encounter (adults), but result in the same phenomenon, the aggregation of conspecifics. Using dual choice experiments, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and silica gel fractionation, 14 candidate pheromone components were identified in headspace volatiles from the C. lectularius laboratory colony. A synthetic blend of octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-octadienal, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, (+)-limonene, (–)-limonene, sulcatone and geranylacetone elicited significant behavioural responses from juveniles, adult males and virgin adult females. Synthetic aggregation pheromone may be useful in detecting C. lectularius in human dwellings.