Influences of Exposure Time and Mortality Assessment Interval on Bioassay Results of Insecticide-Resistant Tropical Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Abstract

We evaluated the influences of insecticide exposure time and mortality assessment intervals on the bioassay results of three insecticide-resistant tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus (F.) populations (Madam Mo, Tanjong Tokong, and Green Lane). This was achieved using the surface contact method and tested with six commercial insecticide products: Tandem, Temprid SC, Pesguard FG161, Sumithrin, Sumithion, and Phantom applied at label rate on glass petri dishes. Six exposure times (5 min, 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 4 h, and continuous exposure for 4 or 14 days for Phantom) were tested. A susceptible common bed bug Cimex lectularius L. strain (Monheim) was used as the reference strain as no susceptible C. hemipterus strain exists. In treatment with Temprid SC, the Tanjong Tokong strain showed significantly higher KT50 values at 5, 10, and 30 min exposures than 1 h, 4 h, and continuous exposures. When all resistant populations were evaluated at continuous exposure to Sumithion, they demonstrated moderate resistance levels (RR50 ranged from 6.0 to 7.9), while KT50 and KT95 of other shorter exposure times failed to be generated due to low knockdown rate. Higher mortalities were observed in Tanjong Tokong and Green Lane strains when tested at longer exposure times with Temprid SC, Pesguard FG161, Sumithrin, Sumithion, and Phantom. Better killing effect was observed in the treatment with Temprid SC (Tanjong Tokong and Green Lane strains), Pesguard FG161 (Tanjong Tokong and Green Lane strains), Sumithrin (all C. hemipterus strains), Sumithion (all C. hemipterus strains), and Phantom (all strains tested) at longer mortality assessment intervals. We demonstrated that insecticide exposure time and mortality assessment interval could potentially affect outcomes of product performance evaluations, resulting in underestimation or overestimation of insecticide resistance levels in field populations.