Why Is the Control of Bed Bugs (Cimex spp.) Infestations as an Urban Environmental Health Pest Difficult Reasons & Control Strategies

The bed bug (Cimex spp.; Hemiptera: Cimicidae) is a public health nuisance and urban pest that can cause significant economic loss. It is acryptic, wingless, and nocturnal hematophagous ectoparasite insect that requires blood meal from humans, other mammals, or birds to survive 1- 3. There was a resurgence of bed bug, as an important public hea lth pest in the past decade 4. Bed bug infestation is a neglected and unreported health and medical concern in comparison with other vector-borne diseases such as Leishmaniosis, Malaria, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, which is increasing worldwide 2. Bed bugs infestation can produce psychological distress with nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, avoidance behaviors, anemia, and personal dysfunction. So far, bed bugs have not been able to vector human pathogens. Their bites are painless and cause itching skin in individuals, but different complications can arise in individuals. Bed bug bites are mainly on the arms, forearms, legs, neck, and face