A pyrethroid-susceptible laboratory strain (Harlan; cultured
without introductions nor pesticide exposure since 1973) of bed
bugs (designated HS) was obtained from Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University. A second ‘field’ strain (an amalgam of
several populations collected from cities across the US in 2005;
designated FS) was obtained from University of Minnesota. Both
strains were reared in our lab under standard conditions of 27 C,
50% relative humidity (RH), and 14:10 (L:D) in glass rearing jars
containing folded filter paper (Whatman No. 1, 90 mm) for a harborage
and offered a blood meal weekly via an artificial feeding
system (Montes et al., 2002).