Project:

Barcoding Cimex lectularius

Students:

Nuttha Siriwatanakul, Era Lame

School:

High School for Environmental Studies, Manhattan

Mentors:

Marissa Bellino

Abstract:

A recent increase in bed bug infestations in New York City motivated us to barcode bed bugs. Bed bugs are a threat to NYC residents due to their prevalence throughout the city and the cost of removing them. Our goal is to identify the bed bug species currently in New York City, and determine if there are any previously unknown invasive species infesting the city. We also want to discover the overall biodiversity of our bed bug samples. This project will provide more information on bed bug species’ genetic make-up.

Poster:

Team samples: