Effects of Temperature and Humidity on the Metabolism of the Fasting Bed-Bug (Cimex lectularius), Hemiptera

Abstract

A method is described by which individual bed-bugs, weighing only 5 mg., can be accurately weighed, and their rate of loss of weight measured during starvation.Fasting bed-bugs were kept for various periods at five temperatures, ranging from 8° C. to 37° C., and at four humidities—0, 30, 60 and 90 per cent. relative humidity—at each temperature. Analysis after the experiments showed that the same amounts of food reserves were used up at each humidity for one temperature, and, as more water was evaporated from those kept in dry air than from those in moist, the proportion of dry matter rose most rapidly in dry air. Protein was the main food reserve used.Although the rate of loss of water was greatest in dry air, the rate of loss was relatively greater in moist air when the saturation deficiencies are compared. It appears that the insects conserve their water in dry air, but their surface area being so great in comparison with their volume, they cannot prevent all evaporation. This evaporation is at a rate nearly proportional to the saturation deficiency of the air.In moist air water appears to be evaporated freely. It is suggested that the spiracles are kept closed more in dry air and less in moist, which accounts for the fact that the rate of evaporation is proportionately greatest in moist air.A comparison is made between the results obtained with Cimex and Rhodnius.