Factors influencing the composition of bed bug (Cimex lectularius) aggregations

Bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) populations exist at a 1:1 sex-ratio, with adults comprising about 20% of all individuals.  Within a population, bed bugs occur in aggregations composed of all life-stages, mating statuses, and feeding stages.  Information regarding the composition of individual field-collected aggregations is lacking, but would provide insight about bed bug interactions and possibly factors that affect aggregation composition. Therefore our objective was to collect individual aggregations and determine if factors such as feeding or mating status affected the composition of the aggregations.  Aggregations were individually collected and labeled from five infested apartment units. The feeding statuses, mating statuses, and life-stages of bed bugs within each aggregation were determined, as well as the distance to the next closest aggregation. These factors were analyzed to determine any correlation between the measured factors and individual aggregation composition. Although overall unit populations were similar to that of previous studies, compositions of individual aggregations did not follow the overall population trend. The results of this study provide information on the understudied field biology and ecology of an economically and medically important insect pest.