Phylogenetic and Ultrastructural Characterization of Bed Bugs in the Southwest of Iran

Background: Bed bugs belong systematically to Order Hemiptera; Suborder Heteroptera; Family Cimicidae are of public health importance as ectoparasites of mammals and birds, however, only a few species are the putative ectoparasites of humans. Bed bugs are a wingless bloodsucking hemipterous bug ( Cimex spp. ) sometimes infesting houses and especially beds and feeding on human blood. Correct species identification is very important in order to design targeted strategies for surveillance and control of bed bugs in a given area. Methods: : Adult bed bugs were collected from houses located in the southwest of Iran. The specimens were morphologically identified to the species level and then confirmed using molecular methods. Results: : The mtDNA 16S rRNA sequences obtained from the specimens, and phylogenetic tree derived, showed that all the sequences belong to Cimex hemipterus . The Disparity Index among results showed that all the specimens were of a heterogeneous population. To the best of our knowledge, the leg structure of this species has not previously been documented and this is the first report of an open-closed rack system in the legs of C. hemipterus . Conclusions: : Previous studies claimed that C. lectularius is the abundant species of Cimicids in Iran. But this investigation showed that C. hemipterus is the prevalent species in the southwest of Iran.