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Updated: Apr 18, 2026

A Method for Evaluating Insecticide Efficacy against Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, Eggs and First Instars

A Method for Evaluating Insecticide Efficacy against Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, Eggs and First Instars

Published on: March 15, 2017

Bed bugs.

Galen T Foulke¹, Bryan E Anderson

¹Department of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, USA.

Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery

|January 13, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Bed bugs, including Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus, are ancient pests. Despite increased public attention, these common and tropical bed bug species have a long history of human infestation.

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Area of Science:

Entomology
Urban Ecology
Public Health

Background:

Bed bugs are insects of the genus Cimex.
Two species, Cimex lectularius (temperate) and Cimex hemipterus (tropical), are commonly referred to as bed bugs.
Despite recent public attention, bed bugs are not a new phenomenon.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of bed bug species.
To contextualize the history of bed bug infestations.
To highlight the long-standing nature of the bed bug problem.

Main Methods:

Literature review of entomological and historical records.
Taxonomic classification of Cimex species.
Analysis of historical accounts of human-pest interactions.

Main Results:

Identification of two primary bed bug species: Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus.
Etymological analysis of Cimex lectularius, linking its name to its association with human dwellings.
Confirmation that bed bug infestations have plagued humanity for centuries.

Conclusions:

Bed bugs represent a persistent and ancient pest.
Understanding the taxonomy and history of bed bugs is crucial for current control efforts.
The long history underscores the need for continued vigilance and research.