How can bedbugs be caught? - briefly
Deploy adhesive interceptors beneath bed legs and set CO₂‑baited pitfall traps near suspected harborages to monitor presence. Combine these tools with mattress encasements and routine visual inspections for early detection.
How can bedbugs be caught? - in detail
Capturing bedbugs requires a systematic approach that combines detection, trapping, and monitoring. Effective capture begins with accurate identification of infestation sites. Focus on seams of mattresses, box‑spring frames, headboards, and cracks in walls or furniture. Once locations are confirmed, implement the following techniques.
• Passive interceptors: Place double‑sided adhesive strips or specially designed pitfall traps beneath bed frames and furniture legs. The adhesive surface immobilizes insects that walk across it, while the pitfall’s recessed design prevents escape.
• Heat‑based lures: Deploy portable heating units that maintain temperatures between 30 °C and 35 °C for several hours. Bedbugs are attracted to the warmth, and a surrounding adhesive mat captures them as they approach the heat source.
• Carbon dioxide attractants: Use CO₂ generators or dry ice placed in sealed containers with small vent holes. The emitted gas mimics human breath, drawing bedbugs toward the source where sticky pads or vacuum suction collect them.
• Light traps: Install low‑intensity ultraviolet lights combined with a fan‑draw system. Bedbugs move toward the light, then are sucked into a collection chamber for later examination.
• Professional vacuuming: Employ a high‑efficiency vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter. Slowly vacuum seams, crevices, and baseboards, pausing to inspect the collection can for captured specimens.
After trapping, preserve specimens in sealed vials containing 70 % ethanol for laboratory confirmation. Regularly replace traps—ideally every 48 hours—to maintain efficacy and monitor population trends. Combining multiple methods increases capture rates and provides reliable data for subsequent eradication efforts.