How to lure bedbugs during the day? - briefly
Use warm, dark traps containing a minute amount of blood or a carbon‑dioxide source near infested zones, as bedbugs are attracted to heat and chemical cues even in daylight.
How to lure bedbugs during the day? - in detail
Attracting Cimex lectularius during daylight requires exploiting their sensory cues and environmental preferences.
Use heat sources that mimic a human body temperature (≈30–34 °C). Place a warm plate or heating pad on a flat surface, cover it with a thin cloth to moderate temperature, and leave it exposed for several hours. Bedbugs move toward thermal gradients, even in light conditions.
Generate carbon dioxide, the primary host‑seeking signal. A small CO₂ generator, a fermenting yeast‑sugar mixture, or a dry ice block placed near the heat source creates a plume that guides insects toward the trap.
Apply synthetic aggregation pheromones, commercially available as lures for monitoring devices. Distribute a few drops on a piece of cardboard or a sticky trap, ensuring even coverage.
Provide a shelter that matches their preferred hiding spots: a dark, tight crevice such as a folded piece of fabric, a cardboard tube, or a small wooden box with a single entry gap. Position the shelter adjacent to the heat and CO₂ sources to increase capture probability.
Deploy sticky traps or pitfall devices inside the shelter. For sticky traps, use a non‑toxic adhesive film; for pitfall traps, place a shallow dish filled with a few drops of diluted detergent solution to immobilize insects that fall in.
Maintain low humidity (40–50 %). Excess moisture reduces activity, while moderate dryness encourages movement across surfaces.
Replace lures and heat sources every 24 hours to sustain attraction. Monitor traps daily, record numbers, and adjust placement if catches decline.
By combining thermal, olfactory, and structural cues, the method reliably draws bedbugs out of their nocturnal hiding places during the day.