Bed Bug Traps

"Bed bug traps are simple devices that can either be made at home or purchased. Traps usually use something to attract bed bugs, such as heat, carbon dioxide or pheromones. The one exception is the climbup trap described below. Several kinds of traps are described below, including two that you can made yourself."

No trap will catch 100% of bed bugs in a room. At best, traps are good for catching a good number of bed bugs and for determining how large a problem exists in a room. Bed bug traps are also helpful to determine if a bed bug infestation has been eliminated.

The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to call a bed bug exterminator such as a member of the Service Magic Network (1.877.233.1145). Members of the network are pre-screened and must be licensed and insured.

If you can't afford an exterminator, then the use of these traps in addition to some low cost methods described below should help kill bed bugs at home or in an apartment.

Bed Bug Home Remedy - Bed Bug Trap using Carbon dioxide

This trap was developed by Dr. Changlu Wang. Dr. Wang is a research entomologist from Rutgers University. It's best to use this trap when not sleeping in the infested room or bed. The total cost for the bed bug home remedy trap, including all materials is approximately $16.

For a small bed bug problem, this bed bug trap will take several nights to capture all of the bed bugs in the room. Only use 1 trap.

Here is a video that provides some helpful information on these types of bed bug traps:

Video Demonstrating BedBug Traps

Materials Needed to Make the BedBug Trap

A plastic pet dish. Purchase a divided pet dish with flat bottom food bowls. (approx. $2.78.). Before starting project, remove any labels from the dish.
1/3-gallon insulated cooler or insulated thermos with a spout on the top. ($6.99)
Talcum powder (baby powder). Scented or unscented. Must say talcum baby powder (not cornstarch) on the label ($1.73).
A small paint brush, make-up brush or cotton ball. An old make-up brush is fine
Fabric. Old clothes or shirt is fine.
Elmer's Glue or similar brand. Masking tape works instead of glue.
Dry ice cubes. You can find places that sell dry ice in the Yellow Pages. Purchase before building the trap. Bring the cooler or thermos with you to the store that sells the dry ice. Store the ice in the cooler or thermos for transport home. New ice will be needed for each day that the trap is used.

CAUTION: Handle the dry ice with gloves, if it touches your skin it could burn!

Home Remedies for Bed Bugs
Do It Yourself Bed Bug Trap Materials

Instructions:

The pet dish, turned upside down is the bed bug trap. After dark, bedbugs will crawl up the dish sides, and then get dropped into the deep canal. The dry ice will be on the raised area, this is the substance that will attract the bed bugs.

The pet dish is too slippery for bedbugs to climb, so you'll have to take the fabric and glue it the sides as a bed bug ramp. Use masking tape to cover the edges of the fabric, covering all sides so that bed bugs can't hide in any cracks you leave. Be sure all glue is dry before using (leave overnight). Be sure not to leave any visible glue drops.

Steps for Setting Up the Home Bed Bug Trap:

Apply Talcum Powder to Pet Dish: Take a brush or cotton ball and the talcum powder. Use the brush or cotton balls to put a thin layer of talcum powder inside the bottom of the groove on the bottom of the pet dish. Talcum powder makes it impossible for bed bugs to escape the bed bug trap.
Buy Dry Ice and Place in Thermos: Take the thermos to your dry ice store and fill it with dry ice cubes (wear gloves to avoid burns that come from touching the ice). Close the dry ice container tightly, but leave a small opening in the spout to release any pressure that builds from melting ice.
Put Together the Bed Bug Trap: Take the upside down pet dish and place it near the area that is infested (e.g.;'; the bed or other furniture if in a room other than the bedroom). Place on the floor.

Put the thermos on the flat area of the dish. It's important that the thermos should not touch the front or back of the dish.

At 9PM or 10PM open the thermos spout all of the way to allow the carbon dioxide to escape and atract the bed bugs.
Kill Bed Bugs that are Caught: Remove the thermos and see if any bed bugs are in the well of the bowl. To kill bedbugs, place the trap in your freezer for several hours.

Picture Home Remedies for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
Assembled Home Bed Bug Trap

Bed Bug Trap - Interceptor Bowl

An interceptor is a bowl that is placed under each bed leg. Interceptor bowls can be home made or they can be inexpensively purchased. When bed bugs approach a sleeping person, they will be trapped as they try and climb up the bed legs onto the bed. Note that you can buy prefabricated bowls called climbup for under $20, that are made specifically for this purpose.

Materials Needed to Make the BedBug Trap

Buy two plastic bowls so that one bowl can fit into another. Purchase 4 pairs of bowls. There should be 1/2 inch to 1+ inch between the edge of one bowl and another.
Fabric, can be a rag or any other material with a rough surface
Glue
Masking Tape
Talcum Powder and/or Bed Bug Dust (diatomaceous earth). Most garden stores sell diatomaceous earth or a product called insect dust.

Picuture of Climbup Interceptor Bowls
or Make it Yourself at Home

Steps for Setting Up the Home Bed Bug Trap:

Glue fabric to the outside of each large bowl. This will be a ramp for the bed bugs to climb up the side of the bowl. Use masking tape along the top of the fabric to avoid having bed bugs hiding in the seam.
Place the small bowls inside the large bowls.
Put talcum powder into the well formed between the small bowl and the large bowl. Mix in some of the diatomaceous earth.
Put one bowl under each bed leg

For added protection, move the bed at least 6 inches from each wall and any surrounding furniture. Also keep any blankets or shams away from the floor, as these can act as a convenient ramp for the bed bugs.

Inexpensive BedBug Traps

Instead of building your own trap, you can buy Climbup interceptors, which are similar to the bed bug trap described above. Place one under each bed leg. Place some talcum powder into the outer well to kill the bed bugs.

Climbup Bed Bug Trap

These work the same way, but allowing bed bugs to climb up the sides of the bowls, only to be trapped inside. While this approach is not a complete bed bug treatment solution, they can at minimum give you an indication of 1) is there an infestation and 2) how large is the infestation. After treating a room, an empty bowl means no more bed bugs.

Leave the Climbup interceptors in place for 2 weeks, to catch any late hatching bed bugs.

Picture of Climbup Bed Bug Traps

It is very difficult to treat a bed bug infestation yourself. We strongly suggest at minimum, getting a quote from a bed bug professional. Here are three easy and free sources for bed bug experts in your neighborhood:

Our Local Referral Service: Click Here to get our list of local bed bug experts. The entire process can be completed in under a minute. Each company will provide a free quote.
Service Magic: This is a network of bed bug control companies that pre-screens exterminators before they are allowed to join. Either search the Service Magic Network Online or call 1.877.233.1145. They will provide up to 4 free quotes.

If you are more of a "do it yourself" type person, then you can save money by purchasing a bed bug kit. These kits contain a mattress safe spray, crack and crevice spray and bed bug dust product.

References:

Do-It-Yourself Bed Bug Trap
Barb Ogg, Extension Educator
University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension

Stephen L. Doggett
Principal Editor
Department of Medical Entomology,
Institute for Clinical Pathology & Medical Research,
Westmead Hospital, WESTMEAD NSW 2145, Australia