Table 6.
Methods used to monitor for insecticide resistance in bed bugs (Cimex spp.)
| Methoda | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Bioassays via dose/concentration-response assays | Provide levels of resistance | Require a susceptible strain, need large numbers of live bed bugs; regardless of mechanism(s) |
| Bioassays via discriminating concentration/dose assays | Standardized (e. g. WHO susceptibility test kits); simple to perform | Provide no information about levels of resistance and type of resistance mechanism(s) (except when using synergists); lack sensitivity |
| Biochemical assays | Require a small sample size; sensitive; provide indirect evidence on specific resistance mechanism(s) | Require sophisticated and costly equipment and the technology which pest managers do not have ready access to; require materials to be kept frozen |
| Molecular assays | Require a small sample size; very sensitive; provide informations on specific resistance mechanism(s); can detect resistance alleles (e. g. kdr mutations), even from dead body; could develop specific molecular markers to detect specific mechanism(s) | Require specific and costly equipment, high ongoing costs and the technology which pest managers may not have access to; costly reagents, require materials to be kept frozen |