Mass Rearing of <I> Cimex hemipterus </I> (Fabricius) Using Membrane Feeding Technique

Abstract

Mass rearing of bed bug, Cimex hemipterus (Fabricius) by using membrane feeding technique was carried out in laboratory condition, 25-30 °C and 75 %RH. Bed bugs were fed through paraffin membrane with blood of pig, cow, chicken, rabbit and human. The result revealed that the shortest period from egg stage to adult emergence was 37.42 ± 5.19 days when fed with rabbit blood. While, the developmental periods of bed bugs when fed with the blood of chicken, pig and human were 46.71 ± 4.75, 48.83 ± 1.72 and 91.11 ± 9.52 days, respectively. In addition, bed bugs fed with rabbit blood at every 3-day interval exhibited the shortest nymphal period of 38.38 ± 10.79 days while those of every 5- and 7-day intervals were 52.27 ± 7.58 and 61.62             ± 9.47 days, respectively. Bed bugs were not able to develop to adult stage when fed with rabbit blood at every 9-day interval. Hence, rabbit blood was suitable for mass rearing bed bugs and might be fed at every 3-day interval.