Species identification and pyrethroid resistance genotyping of recently resurgent Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus in Korea

Abstract

The global resurgence of bed bug infestations, exacerbated by increasing international travel, trade, and insecticide resistance, has significantly impacted Korea. This study identified the bed bug species and performed pyrethroid resistance genotyping of recently resurgent bed bugs in Korea. Thirty-one regional bed bug samples were collected from 5 administrative regions: Gyeonggi-do (<i>n</i>=14), Seoul (<i>n</i>=13), Busan (<i>n</i>=2), Jeonllanam-do (<i>n</i>=1), and Chungcheongbuk-do (<i>n</i>=1). The samples underwent morphological and molecular identification. Twenty-four regional samples (77.4%) were identified as the tropical bed bug, <i>Cimex hemipterus</i>, and the remaining 7 regional samples (22.6%) were identified as the common bed bug, <i>Cimex lectularius</i>. The <i>C. hemipterus</i> regional samples carried at least three mutations associated with knockdown resistance (<i>kdr</i>), including 2 <i>super-kdr</i> mutations. The 7 <i>C. lectularius</i> regional samples possessed at least one of the 3 <i>kdr</i>-related mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance. This study confirms that the prevalent bed bug species recently in Korea is <i>C. hemipterus</i>, replacing the previously endemic <i>C. lectularius</i>. Additionally, the rise in bed bug populations with pyrethroid resistance underscores the necessity of introducing alternative insecticides.