Bed bug preferences for host odor or aggregation odor are differentially modulated by physiological state in various odorscapes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bed bugs live in an ecologically and spatially restricted indoor habitat comprised of overlapping aggregation and host odors, and they traverse relatively short distances between blood-hosts and aggregation sites. Although many studies demonstrated aggregation or host odor preference respectively, the modulation of bed bug preferences between these divergent odors is poorly understood. Given the recurrent transitions of bed bugs between replete and hungry states, we evaluated the effects of six odorscapes containing aggregation and host skin odors on bed bug preferences.

Results

Hunger state modulated odor preference for aggregation and foraging in all tested odorscapes. Aggregation odor attracted both fed and unfed bed bugs. Host skin odor attracted unfed bed bug

SUBMITTER: Wada-Katsumata A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12790647 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature