How to catch bedbugs? - briefly
Place interceptors or adhesive traps beneath each bed leg, and inspect mattress seams, box‑spring tags, and nearby furniture for live insects or shed exoskeletons. Augment visual checks with a carbon‑dioxide or heat‑based lure trap to improve capture efficiency.
How to catch bedbugs? - in detail
Detecting and trapping bedbugs requires systematic inspection, targeted devices, and regular monitoring.
Begin with a thorough visual survey. Examine seams of mattresses, box‑spring frames, headboards, and furniture joints. Use a bright flashlight and a magnifying lens to reveal live insects, shed skins, or dark spots of feces. Remove clutter that can conceal insects and vacuum all surfaces, discarding the bag or canister contents in a sealed container.
Deploy a combination of passive and active traps to increase capture rates.
- Interceptor cups: plastic dishes with a smooth inner wall and a rough outer rim, placed beneath each leg of a bed or furniture piece; insects climbing upward fall into the cup and cannot escape.
- Adhesive strips: double‑sided tape or commercial glue traps positioned along baseboards, behind headboards, and near suspected harborages; insects become immobilized upon contact.
- Pitfall traps: shallow containers filled with a few milliliters of liquid detergent solution, concealed under furniture legs; insects walking into the liquid drown.
- Carbon‑dioxide emitters: devices releasing controlled CO₂ pulses mimic human respiration, attracting bedbugs to nearby sticky surfaces or vacuum ports.
- Heat traps: portable units that raise ambient temperature to 35–40 °C, prompting insects to move toward cooler zones where adhesive surfaces await.
Placement follows precise guidelines. Position interceptors directly under each support leg; ensure the cup’s rim remains flush with the floor to prevent escape. Align adhesive strips vertically along seams and horizontally at the base of headboards. Locate pitfall containers within 30 cm of known activity zones, avoiding direct sunlight that could degrade the liquid. Position CO₂ emitters at least 0.5 m from sleeping areas, directing the release toward suspected hideouts. Maintain a minimum distance of 1 m between heat traps and heat‑sensitive materials to avoid damage.
Inspect traps daily. Record the number of captured insects, noting any increase that may indicate spreading. Replace adhesive strips and refill pitfall solutions when saturation occurs. Empty interceptor cups into a sealed bag and dispose of it promptly.
Observe safety protocols. Wear disposable gloves when handling traps, especially those containing liquids or adhesive. Avoid placing chemical attractants near children or pets. Ensure ventilation when using CO₂ devices to prevent excessive buildup.
Consistent application of these methods yields reliable capture data, facilitates targeted extermination, and supports long‑term elimination efforts.