Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria have been previously shown to infect laboratory colonies of the human bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Heteroptera: Cimicidae), but little information exists regarding the extent of infection in natural populations. We assayed C. lectularius populations from five North American regions (California, Connecticut, Florida, New York, and Toronto, Canada) and one African region (Macha, Zambia) for Wolbachia infection by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Wolbachia infections were prevalent in all populations assayed (83–100%). There were no significant differences in infection frequency between geographic regions, between sexes, or between life stages (adult versus nymph). The potential utility of Wolbachia for alternative bed bug control strategies is discussed.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 July 2006
Geographic Distribution of Wolbachia Infections in Cimex lectularius (Heteroptera: Cimicidae)
Joyce M. Sakamoto,
Jason L. Rasgon
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
Journal of Medical Entomology
Vol. 43 • No. 4
July 2006
Vol. 43 • No. 4
July 2006
Cimex lectularius
control strategies
endosymbiont
pesticide resistance
Wolbachia