Gender Specific Vision In Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Abstract:
Eye morphology, spectral sensitivity, and harborage color preferences all have significant differences between male and female bed bugs. Bed bug eye automontage images revealed that females had wider eyes than males. Electroretinogram studies gave evidence that bed bugs have at least one photoreceptor with a spectral sensitivity curve peak in the green (𝛌max = 520 nm) region of the spectrum. This broad peak potentially indicates another photoreceptor in the yellow-green (𝛌max = 550 nm) portion of the spectrum, or the presence of additional screening pigments. Electroretinogram studies also showed that males were significantly more sensitive to 520 nm wavelengths compared to females, whereas females were more sensitive to 580nm wavelengths compared to males. Bed bug bioassays indicated that, overall, bed bugs preferred red and black harborages, whereas green harborages were least attractive. Additionally, female bed bugs preferred colored harborages with shorter wavelengths whereas males preferred colored harborages with longer wavelengths. Collectively, these advancements in understanding bed bug vision are vital for improving bed bug monitoring tools.Ke