In this article we will see How to trap Bed bugs with Duct Tape.
Adhesive tape, more generally called “duct tape” consists of two elements: glue and a support film. The glue is which allows the support film to adhere to a surface. It must be strong enough, therefore, to stay on the surface for as long as necessary.

There is a variant which is double-sided tape, as the name suggests, allows two surfaces to be glued together such as nameplates or decorative moldings. This is possible as instead of having one adhesive side, it has two. Exit the traditional support film of plastic adhesive tape. Instead, there is a second adhesive face covered by a film which is withdrawn to stick to the second surface. With this high-quality double-sided tape, you can join two surfaces quickly and easily. Double-sided tape could be really useful to fight a bed bug infestation. As we will see later in this article.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Duct tape for Bed bugs

Here are the Advantages to use Adhesive tape to get rid of Bed bugs:

Trapping bed bugs with double-sided tape consists of applying an adhesive strip to a surface around a point where those insects may pass to capture them. In theory, this is an unbeatable and simple possible economic way to get rid of those bloodsuckers.

Duct tape can also be useful to isolate your bed from them. Indeed, you just need to apply adhesive tape around the legs of the bed so that bed bugs are not able to climb onto it.

By using tape to trap them, you can quickly detect their presence in order to take action to get rid of them before they can spread throughout your home.

However, there are a few disadvantages to using duct tape:

•     The adhesive material is not reliable: it was not designed for this specific use. Its composition can repel bed bugs and not fix them effectively.
•     The adhesive can weaken with the dust accumulated over the days.
•     The effectiveness is not guaranteed depending on the installation and the surfaces that can leave escape spaces for them.

You can also use adhesive tape with other types of traps such as CO2 traps. If you want a cheap and affordable DIY trap you could for example have a look at our article dedicated on Alka-Seltzer traps for Bed Bugs.

How to Trap Bed Bugs with Duct Tape?

Trapping bed bugs with tape can be an effective way to detect their presence and monitor their activity in your home. Here is how you can do it:

•     Get some double-sided carpet tape or duct tape.
•     Cut the tape into strips that are a few inches long.
•     Place the strips of tape along the perimeter of your bed, on the bed frame, and on any nearby furniture, such as nightstands or dressers.
•     Make sure that the sticky side of the tape is facing up
•     Leave the tape in place for several days or up to a week.

After this time period, carefully remove the tape and inspect for any bugs that the adhesive tape caught. Look for small, reddish-brown insects, as well as any eggs or fecal stains.

Will Bed bugs stick to Duct tape?

Yes, they can stick to tape, particularly double-sided carpet tape or adhesive tape, which have a very sticky adhesive surface. The tape can act as a trap, catching them as they move around in search of a blood meal. However, it’s important to note that you will not catch every bug with adhesive tape, since they may be able to avoid it or climb over it if they are particularly mobile.
  Additionally, they can survive for long periods of time without feeding, so it’s possible that they may not be caught on the tape if they are in a dormant state. Usually, the dormant state happens with colder temperatures for bed bugs.

Which Materials do Bed bugs stick to?

They can stick to a variety of materials, but they are more likely to attach to surfaces that are rough or textured, which allows them to climb and hold onto it with their legs.

 Common materials that these critters may stick to include:

•     Fabric – Bed bugs can stick to fabrics such as bedding, clothes, curtains, and upholstered furniture.
•     Wood – They can crawl on and stick to surfaces made of wood, such as bed frames, dressers, and nightstands.
•     Paper – They can attach themselves to paper materials, such as books, magazines, and cardboard boxes.
•     Plastics – They can cling to smooth surfaces made of plastic, such as trash bags, storage containers, and electronics.
•     Metals – They can also climb and hold onto metal surfaces, such as bed frames, metal headboards, and metal furniture.

What do Bed bugs not stick to?

There are certain materials that they may have difficulty climbing on, which include:

•     Smooth and slippery surfaces – Such as glass or metal that is polished or coated with a slippery substance like silicone.
•     Hard and non-porous materials – they may have difficulty sticking to surfaces that are hard and non-porous, such as tile, marble, or plastic.
•     Highly absorbent materials – They may have difficulty sticking to materials that are highly absorbent, such as foam or rubber, as they may not be able to get a firm grip on the surface.
•     Synthetic materials – They may also have difficulty sticking to certain synthetic materials, such as nylon, polyester, or spandex, as they may not be able to climb as easily on these materials.

Conclusion

In this article we saw How to trap Bed bugs with Duct Tape.  It’s important to note that they are excellent climbers and can navigate a wide range of surfaces. They are also very resilient and can survive for long periods of time without feeding. As a result, it’s important to take appropriate measures to eliminate them if you suspect an infestation. You cannot solely rely on adhesive tape to get rid of an infestation. However, Duct tape is an easy and affordable way to detect bed bugs and to isolate your bed from those bloodsuckers. If you want to know other types of traps for bed bugs available online. You could check our Bed Bugs Traps Buying Guide.