The Perks And Pitfalls Of Bed Bug Traps
Speak one mention of bed bugs and most people will cringe, grow paranoid, and maybe start to itch. No one wants a bed bug problem, but a high percentage of homeowners will end up facing one at some point in their life. If this happens to be you, you may be inclined to run out to the local retail store and load up on whatever you can find to tackle the problem. One of the first things a lot of consumers go for is bed bug traps. Will traps work or should you call a bed bug extermination service for help? Here's what you need to know about the perks and pitfalls of bed bug traps and why it is a better idea to work with a pro.
Perk: Bed bug traps can be an effective way to capture the pests
Pitfall: Traps will not remove the bugs from your bed or furniture
Yes, bed bug traps can trap the creepy bugs, if they are placed correctly. Unfortunately, bed bug traps are only going to capture whatever happens to walk into the trap. If you have a ton of bed bugs in your mattress, the only thing the trap is going to capture is the bugs that make it to the floor. An exterminator will actually be able to treat your mattress with something like bed bug heat treatment to eradicate bugs here as well.
Perk: Anyone can buy bed bug traps and install them
Pitfall: You're going to need a lot of traps
Installing bed bug traps is easy-peasy. Most of these traps have some kind of sticky residue that catches the legs of a bug as it walks across. So, you're simply going to open a package and place the trap wherever you see bugs. It sounds easy enough, but to effectively capture a lot of bugs, you're going to need a ton of traps. In all seriousness, it is highly unlikely that you want bed bug traps surrounding your bed, all around your carpet, and throughout the house.
Perk: Traps may help without the use of pesticides
Pitfall: Traps usually have to be combined with added efforts to completely get rid of the issue
Bed bug traps are considered a natural option for reducing a bed bug population, and they can be minimally effective if you purchase enough of them. However, it is practically unheard of to get rid of a full infestation with just traps alone. Bed bug exterminators often use traps as just one tactic in a full lineup of other plans for totally eradicating the problem. For example, you may see a pro use traps, but they will also likely do heat treatment and treatment with pesticides or natural repellents.