Sticky Trap Design Considerations for Entrapping Bed Bugs

Abstract

Little evidence has been presented on the usefulness of sticky traps for monitoring bed bugs, Cimex lectularius. We examined how the surface roughness around the adhesive of a sticky trap affects both bed bug behavior and adhesive entrapment. In the first assay, bed bugs were placed onto acetate paper discs with different roughness averages (Ra). Each disc was surrounded by sticky trap adhesive and number of captured bed bugs were recorded. The second assay was set up similarly to the first assay except that the outer portion of the acetate disc had a different Ra than the center. In the third assay, bed bugs were placed into circular acetate arenas where they were surrounded by different Ra treatments. The number of times the bed bugs contacted the Ra treatment but did not cross onto the treatment was recorded. Results of these assays showed that as the acetate surfaces got smoother (lower Ra), bed bugs were more likely to get trapped in sticky trap adhesives but also less likely to travel across the smoother surfaces they encountered. A sticky trap design with a smooth plastic film around the adhesive was tested in the field to see if it could capture bed bugs in apartments with known bed bug activity. This trap was not only able to capture bed bugs but was also able to detect unknown German cockroach, Blattela germanica, infestations. Sticky trap designs with smooth surfaces around an adhesive could be used to monitor not only bed bugs but also German cockroaches.

Detection and monitoring of bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae): review of the underlying science, existing products and future prospects

“…If bed bugs are to be trapped effectively a preferred slightly roughened area at the trap periphery should transform into a smooth surface at the boundary of the adhesive. 114,122,123 In addition, the exterior of the trap may be important for bed bug attraction and entry. Two separate research groups found that bed bugs prefer traps that are red or black, 124,125 but only ten traps listed in Tables 1 and 2 incorporate black into their exterior surface and only one is red.…”

Development of a lateral flow test for bed bug detection

“…These range from inexpensive ‘passive monitors (no lure)’ such as sticky traps and pitfall traps to more elaborate and expensive ‘active monitors (with lure)’. Sticky traps are not effective in detecting bed bugs 11 despite their widespread use (67.9% of pest control operators use sticky traps for bed bug detection 12 ). In contrast, pitfall traps are effective in detecting low-level bed bug infestations 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 13 – 15 .…”