How to Trap Bed Bugs?
Troubled by repeated bed bug bites and increasing bed bug epidemic, people are now extensively searching out ways on how to trap bed bugs to confirm their suspicions regarding possible infestation and controlling bed bugs to some extent.
However, before taking the trouble to try bed bug traps to catch these little wingless critters, inspect your house thoroughly for signs of bed bugs. In case you are positive but not sure then choose an active or passive method for detecting bed bugs depending on your situation and requirement.
Passive methods involve a simple although slow approach as they focus on trapping the bugs while they travel from their hideouts up to the beds to enjoy a nourishing blood meal.
The Vaseline trick, double sided tape method and bed bug moats are the easiest ways to determine whether your house is infested with bed bugs or not. Placing any of these items around the bed legs, along bottom of walls and other areas where there could be infestation can help trap bed bugs and their eggs.
Carpet tape is highly beneficial in this regard. It would be better to use the tape after placing the bed legs in plastic or metal containers so that the sticky tape does damage your furniture.
Rubbing Vaseline around bed legs is another possible way to trap bed bugs. However, the procedure might require reapplication of the cream at least once in a week. As these annoying bugs have an affinity for wood, try making wood traps to catch these annoying bugs and then destroy them.
Another effective procedure to catch and kill bed bugs is to use ethyl alcohol or some soapy solution in plastic bowl having another smaller bowl inside it. Fill the smaller bowl with a mixture of talcum powder and diatomaceous earth and wrap the outer bowl with a cloth or paper to make it easy for the bug to crawl on it and eventually drown in the solution.
The smaller bowl is meant to catch bed bugs moving off the bed. In case you have small children or pets in the house then it is better to avoid the diy solution and messy Vaseline methods.
If you are wondering how to trap bed bugs using an inexpensive yet effective method then you can go for the popular dry ice bed bug trap prepared by placing an insulated jug half filled with dry ice on the top of an inverted pet food bowl and putting talcum powder inside its rim.
Dry ice is useful in luring bed bugs that are attracted to carbon dioxide. However, make sure you wear gloves while handling dry ice as this cooling agent can cause frostbites.
In addition, there are different types of bed bud monitors, traps, and climb-up interceptors available in the market. Before buying any particular product, try to find out how to trap bed bugs using the device and understand its functioning clearly so that you can use it to the best of your advantage.
Besides, you can also use specifically designed mattress covers to trap existing bed bugs inside and prevent other bugs from getting inside.