Effects of ozone on the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius)
James Feston, Marissa McDonough, Linda Mason, Timothy Gibb, Kurt Saltzmann
Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Background
The feasibility of using gaseous ozone to manage insect pests has received increased attention in recent
years. Research in this area has focused primarily on stored product pests (Kells et al. 2001, Sousa et al. 2008,
McDonough et al. 2011). Given the resurgence of bed bugs in the U.S. and other countries over the last decade,
the question of whether ozone could be used in bed bug integrated pest management programs has been raised.
Research designed to address this question is currently underway in our laboratory. Data presented here show
that adult male bed bugs are susceptible to ozone, depending on the concentration of ozone used and the length of
time that insects are exposed. Two devices capable of delivering ozone to laboratory fumigation chambers were
used for this study; one delivered a high ozone concentration with short exposure times, and a second utilized a
low ozone concentration with long exposure times. The overall goals of this research are to 1) determine the time
and ozone concentration needed to reach 100% mortality in all bed bug life stages, and 2) learn more about the
mode of action of ozone in insects and strategies insects might use to survive ozone exposure.
Materials and Methods
High ozone concentration and short exposure time
• A bed bug strain collected in Indianapolis, IN in 2009 and maintained in
the laboratory was used for all experiments.
• Ozone was delivered continuously in a flow through chamber held inside a
laboratory fume hood at room temperature.
• Insects were scored as alive, knocked down, or dead at 0, 24, and 48 h
after treatment.
• One ozone concentration and five exposure times were tested.
Low ozone concentration and long exposure time
• A bed bug strain collected in Indianapolis, IN in 2009 and reared in the
laboratory was used for all experiments.
• Experiments were carried out in a bench top fumigation chamber at room
temperature and 80% relative humidity.
• Each trial was conducted in the presence of either 1% or 2% hydrogen
peroxide vapor.
• Insects were scored as alive, knocked down, or dead at 0, 24, and 48 h,
and seven d after treatment.
• One ozone concentration and three exposure times were tested.
Results
Results of a
preliminary experiment
showing adult male bed bug
mortality 48 h after exposure
to 1800 ppm ozone. Each
data point represents three
replicates with 30 insects per
replicate.
Conclusions
• Preliminary experiments showed that adult male bed bugs were
susceptible to relatively short periods of ozone exposure when high
concentrations of ozone were used. 100% mortality was achieved when
bed bugs were exposed to 1800 ppm ozone for 150 min (Fig. 1).
• When a low concentration of ozone in the presence of 1% hydrogen
peroxide was tested, 100% mortality was observed when insects were
exposed to ozone for 48 h (Fig. 2).
• Bed bugs exposed for 48 h to 80 ppm ozone and 2% hydrogen peroxide
did not result in 100% mortality (Fig. 3). Based on this, additional tests are
being conducted with insects exposed to ozone for 72 h.
• Experiments are being carried out to measure mortality in bed bug
immature life stages following ozone exposure.
2. Mortality of adult
male bed bugs seven d after
exposure to 80 ppm ozone
and 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Each data point is an
average of three replicates
with ten insects per
replicate. Asterisk indicates
significant difference
between treatment group
and control (P < 0.05).
3. Mortality of adult
male bed bugs seven d after
exposure to 80 ppm ozone
and 2% hydrogen peroxide.
Each data point is an
average of three replicates
with ten insects per
replicate. Asterisk indicates
significant difference
between treatment group
and control (P < 0.05).
Background
The feasibility of using gaseous ozone to manage insect pests has received increased attention in recent
years. Research in this area has focused primarily on stored product pests (Kells et al. 2001, Sousa et al. 2008,
McDonough et al. 2011). Given the resurgence of bed bugs in the U.S. and other countries over the last decade,
the question of whether ozone could be used in bed bug integrated pest management programs has been raised.
Research designed to address this question is currently underway in our laboratory. Data presented here show
that adult male bed bugs are susceptible to ozone, depending on the concentration of ozone used and the length of
time that insects are exposed. Two devices capable of delivering ozone to laboratory fumigation chambers were
used for this study; one delivered a high ozone concentration with short exposure times, and a second utilized a
low ozone concentration with long exposure times. The overall goals of this research are to 1) determine the time
and ozone concentration needed to reach 100% mortality in all bed bug life stages, and 2) learn more about the
mode of action of ozone in insects and strategies insects might use to survive ozone exposure.
Materials and Methods
High ozone concentration and short exposure time
• A bed bug strain collected in Indianapolis, IN in 2009 and maintained in
the laboratory was used for all experiments.
• Ozone was delivered continuously in a flow through chamber held inside a
laboratory fume hood at room temperature.
• Insects were scored as alive, knocked down, or dead at 0, 24, and 48 h
after treatment.
• One ozone concentration and five exposure times were tested.
Low ozone concentration and long exposure time
• A bed bug strain collected in Indianapolis, IN in 2009 and reared in the
laboratory was used for all experiments.
• Experiments were carried out in a bench top fumigation chamber at room
temperature and 80% relative humidity.
• Each trial was conducted in the presence of either 1% or 2% hydrogen
peroxide vapor.
• Insects were scored as alive, knocked down, or dead at 0, 24, and 48 h,
and seven d after treatment.
• One ozone concentration and three exposure times were tested.
Results
Results of a
preliminary experiment
showing adult male bed bug
mortality 48 h after exposure
to 1800 ppm ozone. Each
data point represents three
replicates with 30 insects per
replicate.
Conclusions
• Preliminary experiments showed that adult male bed bugs were
susceptible to relatively short periods of ozone exposure when high
concentrations of ozone were used. 100% mortality was achieved when
bed bugs were exposed to 1800 ppm ozone for 150 min (Fig. 1).
• When a low concentration of ozone in the presence of 1% hydrogen
peroxide was tested, 100% mortality was observed when insects were
exposed to ozone for 48 h (Fig. 2).
• Bed bugs exposed for 48 h to 80 ppm ozone and 2% hydrogen peroxide
did not result in 100% mortality (Fig. 3). Based on this, additional tests are
being conducted with insects exposed to ozone for 72 h.
• Experiments are being carried out to measure mortality in bed bug
immature life stages following ozone exposure.
2. Mortality of adult
male bed bugs seven d after
exposure to 80 ppm ozone
and 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Each data point is an
average of three replicates
with ten insects per
replicate. Asterisk indicates
significant difference
between treatment group
and control (P < 0.05).
3. Mortality of adult
male bed bugs seven d after
exposure to 80 ppm ozone
and 2% hydrogen peroxide.
Each data point is an
average of three replicates
with ten insects per
replicate. Asterisk indicates
significant difference
between treatment group
and control (P < 0.05).
