Bed bug preferences for host odor or aggregation odor are differentially modulated by physiological state in various odorscapes

Bed bugs live in an ecologically and spatially restricted indoor habitat comprised of overlapping aggregation and host odors, and they traverse relatively short distances between blood-hosts and aggregation sites. Although many studies demonstrated aggregation or host odor preference respectively, the modulation of their preferences between these divergent odors is poorly understood. Given the recurrent transitions of bed bugs between replete and hungry states, we evaluated the effects of six odorscapes containing aggregation and host skin odors on bed bug preferences. Hunger state modulated odor preference for aggregation and foraging in all tested odorscapes. Aggregation odor attracted both fed and unfed bed bugs. Host skin odor attracted unfed bed bugs but repelled recently fed bed bugs and the addition of carbon dioxide to host odor enhanced the behavioral responses. These findings suggest that orientation to aggregation sites in fed bed bugs is driven by two distinct odor processin..., 2          MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1       Insects
The tested laboratory strain (Harold Harlan strain) was collected in 1973 in Fort Dix NJ, and maintained on a human host until December 2008. Then, in our laboratory, it was fed on defibrinated rabbit blood until July 2021 and on human blood thereafter. It was maintained at 35–45% relative humidity, 25 °C, on a 12:12 (L:D) h cycle and fed weekly on heparinized human blood (supplied by the American Red Cross under IRB #00000288 and protocol #2018-026). We used an artificial feeding system, which has been previously described. The feeding system was housed in a North Carolina State University-approved BSL-2 facility (Biological Use Authorization #2020-09-836). Between feeding sessions, the glass feeders were sanitized with 7.5% sodium hypochlorite and 95% ethanol, and air-dried. Since we conducted 24 hr-observations in an open arena, only adult males (age unknown) ..., , # Data from: Bed bug preferences for host odor or aggregation odor are differentially modulated by physiological state in various odorscapes

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.nzs7h4529](10.5061/dryad.nzs7h4529)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Files and variables

#### File: DRYAD_Bed_bug_preferences_for_host_odor_or_aggregation_odor_are_differentially_modulated_by_physiological_state_in_various_odorscapes.xlsx

**Description:** Data sats of the results of two-choice bioassays

##### Variables

The file contains the seven sheets:

* Read me, description of dataset contains Name of Sheets, Column, Entry, Row, and Explanation.
* Experiment1, Tested insect post feeding (day), Number of Replication, Recorded site, The number of insects observed in recorded site was shown in 0, 1hr, 3hr, 6hr, 12hr, and 24hr of observation time point.
* Experiment2, Tested insect post feeding (day), Number of Replication, Recorded site, The number of insects observed in recorded site was shown i...,