@article{principato_romero_lee_campbell_choe_schal_devries_2023, title={Histamine excretion in common indoor and hematophagous arthropods}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1938-2928"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjad103}, DOI={10.1093/jme/tjad103}, abstractNote={Abstract
               Histamine is a biogenic amine that regulates multiple physiological functions in diverse organisms, specifically playing a central role in the mammalian immune response. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), excretes histamine in large amounts in its feces as a component of its aggregation pheromone, which contaminates homes. The potential health risks associated with the presence of indoor histamine are unclear, but to predict future exposure risks, it is critical that we understand if other arthropods excrete histamine in any discernible phylogenetic pattern. In the present study, we evaluated histamine excretion by various arthropods; specifically those commonly found in large numbers indoors, other hematophagous species, and other species in the order Hemiptera. To evaluate arthropods for histamine excretion, rearing containers for each arthropod were swabbed and/or the harborage substrates were collected. Samples were then analyzed for the presence of histamine using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. For those arthropods where histamine was present above the method detection limit, total histamine excretion was quantified over a period of 2 wk. Our results indicate that histamine excretion is limited to hematophagous hemipterans (bed bugs, bat bugs, tropical bed bugs, and kissing bugs), suggesting that indoor histamine contamination in the United States can be primarily linked to bed bugs.}, journal={JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Principato, Simona and Romero, Alvaro and Lee, Chow-Yang and Campbell, Kathleen and Choe, Dong-Hwan and Schal, Coby and DeVries, Zachary}, editor={Booth, WarrenEditor}, year={2023}, month={Aug} }
 @article{gonzalez-morales_teran_romero_2021, title={Behavioral Responses of the Common Bed Bug to Essential Oil Constituents}, volume={12}, ISBN={2075-4450}, DOI={10.3390/insects12020184}, abstractNote={Botanical-derived pesticides have arisen as an attractive alternative to synthetic insecticides to effectively manage infestations of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.). While information on contact, residual, and fumigant toxicity of plant-essential oils against bed bugs have been recently published, there is a gap of information regarding the repellent activity of these products and their constituents. Identification of essential oil constituents (EOCs) with repellent activity will help develop potentially efficacious essential oil-based formulations for use in bed bug management programs. In this study, we first screened fresh and 24 h-aged residues of geraniol, eugenol, carvacrol, thymol, citronellic acid, linalool, menthone, trans-cinnamaldehyde, α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene for avoidance behavior from individual bed bugs with a video-tracking system. Six EOCs, geraniol, eugenol, citronellic acid, thymol, carvacrol, and linalool were further evaluated overnight in choice tests to determine whether 24-h aged residues were still avoided by groups of bed bugs. While bed bugs avoided resting on filter papers treated with 24-h aged residues of geraniol, eugenol, citronellic acid, and carvacrol, bed bugs aggregated in areas treated with linalool-aged residues. Barriers of EOCs did not prevent bed bugs from reaching a warmed blood source and acquiring blood meals. Our results show that novel formulations of natural product insecticides that include geraniol, eugenol, carvacrol, or citronellic acid have potential to repel bed bugs. The presence of host-associated cues might interfere with these responses.}, number={2}, journal={INSECTS}, author={Gonzalez-Morales, Maria A. and Teran, Martin and Romero, Alvaro}, year={2021}, month={Feb} }
 @article{romero_potter_haynes_2010, title={Circadian rhythm of spontaneous locomotor activity in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L.}, volume={56}, number={11}, journal={Journal of Insect Physiology}, author={Romero, A. and Potter, M. F. and Haynes, K. F.}, year={2010}, pages={1516–1522} }
 @article{romero_hogsette_coronado_2010, title={Distribution and abundance of natural parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) populations of house flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) at the University of Florida Dairy Research Unit}, volume={39}, number={3}, journal={Neotropical Entomology}, author={Romero, A. and Hogsette, J. A. and Coronado, A.}, year={2010}, pages={424–429} }
 @article{romero_potter_haynes_2010, title={Evaluation of chlorfenapyr for control of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L.}, volume={66}, number={11}, journal={Pest Management Science}, author={Romero, A. and Potter, M. F. and Haynes, K. F.}, year={2010}, pages={1243–1248} }