Evaluating the potential for secondary kill in bed bugs, Cimex lectularius

Secondary kill has been described in several insects, where a toxicant is transferred from one individual who contacted or ingested it, to an individual who had no direct exposure to the toxicant. The potential for secondary kill in bed bugs has not been evaluated and could aid in control. Starved first instar nymphs were placed with blood-fed or unfed adults, and nymph survivorship was recorded. Starved nymphs survived longer alone than in the presence either blood-fed or unfed adults. These findings suggest that starved first instar nymphs do not receive an alimentary benefit from adult bed bugs. Moreover, the potential is low for passage of an ingested toxicant from adult bed bugs to nymphs through coprophagy.