Bed bugs can be quite sneaky. This is due to their nocturnal nature and their ability to hide deep inside cracks and crevices much faster. If you are quite certain that your home does have a bed bug infestation, then you can make a DIY trap.
Below are easy instructions on making the trap along with simple steps on how to use bed bug traps:
Making a Sugar or Yeast Solutions for Bait
This bait is quite effective because bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide – sugar and yeast have it. To make this solution, you have to mix 2 cups of sugar to 2 liters of warm water. Make sure that you will use filtered water so that the water will not contain chlorine. Add about half a teaspoon of yeast. Then set this aside. For the bed bug trap, you will need the following:
- Tape and scissors;
- Roll of paper towels; and
- A big empty plastic bottle ( 2 liters variety).
Prepare the bottle by cutting the top part of the bottle; do not cut more than one-fourth parts of the top portion of the bottle.
Make Sure the Bed Bugs can Climb to the Trap
Since the bed bugs do not have the ability to climb up to the smooth plastic bottle, we need to make sure they do. Use the scissors to cut off a good amount of the paper towel; wrap it all over the bottle. Secure it to the bottle by using a tape. Make sure not to use a paste or glue for the bed bugs to detect the smell of your bait that will be placed inside the bottle.
How to Make Sure the Bed Bugs Fall Inside the Bottle
Also, make sure that there will be a little tissue left on the top of the bottle. There should be some parts of the tissue hanging on the upper part of the inner portion of the bottle. This is for us to be sure that the bed bugs will fall off inside the bottle.
Placing the Bait Inside the Bottle
After the bottle is ready, place the bait made from yeast, sugar and water inside the bottle. Be sure that about a half of the bottle will be filled with the sugar, yeast and water solutions so that your bottle will have a strong hold on the ground.
Other Important Tips for your Trap to Work Effectively
Be sure to place this trap near the place where you are mostly bitten by the bed bugs. True, it is quite simple to prepare this cheap and effective bed bug trap. However, this still remains to be a trap and not something to exterminate the bed bugs. You still have to dispose the pests aside from the fact that your trap will remain standing still. Therefore, your trap should be secure firmly on the ground. Again, use some tapes in order to secure the bottle to the ground. A strong pesticide should be used to kill the pests after they have been caught.