With what can you lure bedbugs? - briefly
Carbon dioxide, heat, and the odor of human skin or sweat attract bedbugs, so traps commonly combine these cues with a dark, warm enclosure to increase capture rates.
With what can you lure bedbugs? - in detail
Bedbugs are drawn to cues that signal the presence of a host. The most effective attractants are:
- Carbon dioxide – exhaled breath creates a plume of CO₂ that bedbugs follow up to several meters. Portable CO₂ generators or dry ice can simulate this signal in traps.
- Heat – body temperature (≈ 32–37 °C) is a strong indicator of a live host. Heating elements or warm water bottles placed near a trap increase capture rates.
- Human skin odor – a blend of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as lactic acid, ammonia, fatty acids, and aldehydes guides bedbugs to a feeding source. Synthetic lure mixtures replicating these VOCs are commercially available and can be applied to trap surfaces.
- Blood or blood substitutes – a small amount of fresh animal or human blood, or a protein‑rich solution, provides both chemical and nutritional cues. Soaked filter paper or gelatin capsules can deliver this attractant without exposing trap operators to raw blood.
- Pheromonal kairomones – aggregation pheromones released by adult bedbugs signal safe harborage. Synthetic versions of these compounds enhance trap attractiveness when combined with the above cues.
Effective trap design combines several of these elements. A typical intercepting device includes:
- A sealed chamber that releases a controlled CO₂ flow.
- A heating plate set to 34 °C.
- A lure pad impregnated with a synthetic skin‑odor blend.
- A sticky surface or funnel that prevents escape once the insect enters.
Field studies show that traps using all four attractants capture up to 80 % more bedbugs than those relying on a single cue. When deploying traps, position them near suspected harborages—bed frames, headboards, and cracks in walls—at a distance of 30–60 cm from the surface. Replace lures every 7–10 days to maintain potency.
In summary, the most reliable method to lure bedbugs involves a multimodal approach: CO₂ emission, heat, skin‑odor mimics, and, optionally, blood or pheromone additives. Proper integration of these stimuli into a sealed trap yields consistent captures for monitoring and control programs.