How to catch a bedbug at night in the bed? - briefly
Place a white sheet or adhesive trap beneath the mattress, use a dim red light to illuminate the area, and inspect the surface before retiring for the night. Seal captured insects in an airtight container and eliminate them by freezing or incineration.
How to catch a bedbug at night in the bed? - in detail
Capturing nocturnal bed bugs on a mattress requires a systematic approach that combines detection, containment, and active trapping.
Begin with thorough inspection. Use a bright flashlight to illuminate seams, folds, and the headboard. Look for live insects, shed skins, or dark spots indicating feces. Focus on areas where the insect is most likely to hide during daylight.
Prepare a trapping device. Items needed:
- A shallow tray or dish
- White paper or cloth as a background
- A small LED light or a dim night‑light
- Double‑sided tape or a sticky adhesive strip
- A thin layer of cotton or fabric to provide a landing surface
Assemble the trap by placing the adhesive strip along one edge of the tray. Position the white background beneath the strip to enhance visibility. Position the LED light just above the tray, set to a low intensity to avoid startling the insect while still attracting it.
Deploy the trap on the mattress surface at night. Place it near suspected harborages, such as the edge of the mattress or under the pillow. Bed bugs are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide; the slight warmth from the light and the human presence in the bed increase capture probability.
Monitor the trap for several hours. Check the adhesive surface for captured insects without disturbing the bedding. If captures occur, remove the insects with tweezers, seal them in a labeled vial, and dispose of the vial in a freezer for at least 48 hours before discarding.
Repeat the process nightly until no further captures are observed. Complement trapping with additional measures:
- Encase the mattress and box spring in zippered encasements designed to prevent escape.
- Wash bedding at 60 °C and dry on high heat.
- Vacuum seams and surrounding furniture, emptying the vacuum bag into a sealed container.
Consistent application of these steps eliminates the nocturnal bed bug population directly on the sleeping surface.