Undesirable Dispersal of Eggs and Early-Stage Nymphs of the Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) by Static Electricity and Air Currents

During our individual research with bed bugs, Cimex lectularius L., we became aware that static charges or air currents or a combination of both could occasionally cause the unwanted movement of bed bug eggs and/or early stage nymphs to surrounding areas. Because scientists working with bed bugs understandably want to prevent bugs from escaping into the general laboratory environment and perhaps establishing an infestation, we will share these observations of the unexpected, passive dispersal of bed bugs by static charge and airflow as a warning to other researchers. The first situation can occur when selecting and sorting bed bug life stages for individual experiments. Because bed bugs do not move efficiently on slippery surfaces (Loudon and Boudaie 2009, 57th Annu. Mtg. Entomol. Soc. Am., Indianapolis, IN, Entomol. Soc. Am., Lanham, MD, p.95), it is common practice to work within a glass or plastic enclosure such as a Petri dish or pan, to confine the bugs and prevent their escape. However, static charges can build on plastic or glass surfaces during normal laboratory use, particularly in dry air. And, while viewing bed bugs in Petri dishes using a dissecting microscope, individual eggs were occasionally observed to move suddenly and rapidly through the air over short distances (on the order of centimeters), presumably in response to static charges. Static charge attraction, as opposed to airflow, was assumed to be providing the force for these movements for several reasons. First, these movements were extremely rapid (too quick to follow by eye), and would have required a relatively sharp gust of air (not detected). Second, these movements were usually confined to a single or small number of eggs or early stage nymphs, without affecting the other eggs or nymphs in the dish. Finally, the displaced eggs or nymphs would occasionally end up "stuck" on the vertical wall of the dish after this sudden, short movement. This behavior is reminiscent of the commonly observed movements by pieces of dry (shed) insect cuticle which clearly result from static