Abstract The widespread resistance of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., to pyrethroid insecticides poses major challenges to effective control. Resistance can be attributed to the presence of target-site DNA mutations and the upregulation of genes associated with metabolic detoxification; the former being easily assessed through sequencing of the para -type voltage-gated sodium channel. While studies have documented kdr- associated mutation frequencies, temporal investigations are lacking at a scale finer than the continental United States level. To address this knowledge gap, we sequenced 227 populations of C. lectularius , primarily collected over a 15 y period (2010–2024) from low-income, multi-unit buildings in New Jersey, to investigate the distribution and temporal dynamics of three kdr -associated mutations: V419L, L925I, and I936F. The V419L mutation was present in 95.3–100% of populations sampled across New Jersey, while it was absent from the five populations sampled in Indiana. Post 2014 the V419L mutation was fixed in all sampled populations. Across all temporal and regional samples, the L925I mutation was fixed (100%), whereas the I936F mutation was absent. Our results indicate that the double mutant, commonly referred to as haplotype C, is the predominant genotype across all populations, with haplotype B (L925I mutation only) absent after 2014. The prevalence of kdr- associated mutations emphasizes the need for continued resistance monitoring in concert with research into the evolution of resistance mechanisms to support future bed bug management.
Changlu Wang (Fri,) studied this question.