VECOLure: Novel Aggregation Pheromone Bed Bug Lure

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The common bed bug, _Cimex lectularius_, is a small, blood-sucking insect that feeds on humans. Bed bugs can't fly or jump, but they are skilled hitchhikers that spread by hiding in your belongings until you get to your destination. Here, the apple pip-sized pests find a new hiding spot until they get hungry. Their bites cause reactions ranging from minor irritation to severe allergic hypersensitivity and infestations can cause extreme psychosocial stress. They are a pest of significant public health importance and a major global economic problem, widely infesting homes, hospitals and dormitories and damaging the hospitality industry through infestation of hotels, cinemas and transport.Bed bug control remains one of the most lucrative and growing markets in the pest management industry globally, being particularly strong in the US, where the bed bug problem is well established. Bed bug numbers are also reported to be increasing rapidly in Canada, Australia and UK in a range of properties.Detection of small numbers of bed bugs is problematic; they are active only at night, tend to harbour in cracks and crevices, and can go without feeding for long periods of time. There are a few bed bug detection methods and monitoring devices available, but there are no established products with proven reliability and efficacy for detecting low level infestations quickly.The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has identified a new bed bug aggregation pheromone, which acts as a powerful lure. There is potential to develop this into an effective commercial product and the rights to do this have been secured by Vecotech Limited, a spin-out company founded to capitalise on the School's expertise in novel methods for surveillance and control of a wide range of medically important insects.The objective of this project is to develop an effective test prototype of this powerful lure, to be used in a bed bug-specific trap, capable of detecting early stage infestations, typically comprising <5 bugs within a 1 to 3-day period. The components of the lure are inexpensive and readily available, enabling Vecotech to develop a product that is effective, sensitive, long lasting, safe, affordable and discrete. There are currently no products available that match these requirements.A successful development of a prototype, underpinned by robust IP protection, will see Vecotech quickly secure significant market penetration and sales, and kindle development and commercialisation of other advances to pest detection, prevention and control.