6 Best Bed Bug Traps of 2019

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A white mattress with pillow treated with bed bug traps

Bed bugs are like vampires; they slip in from tiny crevices in the dead of night and suck on your blood while you are asleep. They are also very difficult to kill. While bed bugs are notoriously resistant to many types of pesticides, they are, fortunately, not very smart and can be controlled by bed bug traps.

In this guide, you will learn:

  • 6 Best Bed Bug Traps Of 2019: Reviews
  • Active and Passive Traps
  • Difference between Bed Bug Traps and Interceptors
  • User Guide
  • FAQs

Reviews: 6 Top-Rated Bed Bug Traps

To help you get rid of these parasitic pests, we have searched the market and have come up with six of the best bed bug traps to control these pesky insects.

Climbup Insect Interceptor
  • FEATURESCrack-resistant polypropylene material
    Works as a bed bug monitor
    Pesticide-free
$$
BUY NOW
Aspectek Favored-Trapest Bug Trap
  • FEATURES Captures ticks, fleas and flies
    Lures out bed bugs
    Non-poisonous and pesticide-free
$$
BUY NOW
BEAP Bed Bug Trap
  • FEATURESDurable
    Affordable
    Pesticide-free
$$
BUY NOW

1. Best Interceptor Monitor: Climbup Insect Interceptor

Climbup Insect Interceptor

Climbup Insect Interceptor is a best-selling bed bug interceptor that is recommended by experts. The trap is made from a durable polypropylene material, which is stronger than flexible plastic and accommodates the legs of your furniture. It consists of cups that form an outer ring as well as an inner ring. The outer ring traps bedbugs that attempt to climb up your bed while the inner rings trap those that want to leave your bed and find their way to other regions of your home. The inside walls of each ring are coated with talc so that the bed bugs cannot climb out again.

Pros
  • Crack-resistant polypropylene material
  • Works as a bed bug monitor and provides info about bed bug activity
  • Pesticide-free
Cons
  • Slightly expensive
  • Not very aesthetically pleasing
  • Does not come with pre-packaged talcum powder

 

2. Best Electronic Sticky Trap: Aspectek Favored-Trapest Bug Trap

Aspectek Favored-Trapest Sticky

Aspectek Bed Bug Trap controls the bed bug infestation in your home with the use of heat, light and a strong sticky trap to capture wandering bed bugs in your home. The trap lures out bed bugs as well as fleas from inside carpet and furniture by stimulating the warmth of a meal. Once the insects step into the trap, they are trapped there for good.

Pros
  • The product captures ticks, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes, as well
  • Lures out bed bugs from their hiding places
  • Non-poisonous and pesticide-free
  • UL, CE, and ROHS rated for safety and quality
Cons
  • Cats or other pats may approach the heat-exuding lamp
  • Exercise caution as trap works on electricity
  • Slightly expensive

 

3. Best Ridged Coaster Trap: BEAP Bed Bug Trap

BEAP Bed Bug Trap

BEAP Bed Bug Coaster Traps come as coasters with an outer and inner ring. The outer ring captures bed bugs that are making their way towards the bed using the legs of the bed, and the inner rings capture bed bugs making their way down from the bed. The trap is made of hard plastic, and the outer wall has ridges so that bed bugs can easily climb into the trap. However, the inner walls are smooth and slippery making it difficult for the insects to get back out.

This trap requires regular cleaning as any build up of dirt or insects can give bed bugs a way to escape the trap.

Pros
  • Durable
  • Affordable
  • Ridges that offer an easy way into the trap
  • Pesticide-free
  • Gray colored traps are not noticeable by those not looking for it
Cons
  • Furniture may slide a bit around the container
  • Debris needs to be disposed of regularly
  • Needs frequent application of talcum powder

 

4. Best for Early Detection of Bed Bugs: Raid Bed Bug Detector & Trap

Raid Bed Bug Detector & Trap

Raid bed bug trap is your best option if you have detected a bed bug infestation in its early stages. One packet contains four or eight traps that are joined together by dotted lines. To use them, break the traps apart and positions them near the bed legs or on the head of the mattress. The traps come with a sticky glue-like substance that effectively traps bed bugs. Once the trap is full, you will need to throw away the device.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Quickly detect the presence of infestation
  • Comes with 4 or 8 traps that you should all place at the same time
  • Adhesive binds bed bugs
Cons
  • Need to be disposed off when filled with bugs
  • Cannot be fitted on the legs of the bed
  • Cannot see bed bugs due to the dark interior
  • Need to be supplemented with other bed bug treatments

 

5. Best Glue Trap: Trapper Insect Glue Trap

Trapper Insect Glue Trap

The trapper comes with 90 cardboard paper smeared with a strong glue and an adhesive surface so that the trap doesn’t get dragged away by an insect. The glue is non-toxic and is safe to use around your home. To make the trap more effective, you should buy attractant tablets or blood meal baits. The bed bugs will come for the bait and will step on the sticky surface, without any hope of escaping. If you have a bed bug infestation in a single room, place several cardboards to increase effectiveness.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Comes with 90 cardboards
  • Adhesive underside so that trap doesn’t get dragged away
  • Non-toxic glue
  • Safe for pets and children
Cons
  • Need to be disposed off when filled with bugs
  • Will need to buy separate bait

 

6. Best CO2 Trap: ClearVue Bed Bug Traps

ClearVue Bed Bug Traps

The trap comes with a sponge, tablets and activation capsules that are placed in a box to release carbon dioxide. Clearvue bed bug trap slowly releases the gas, mimicking the human breath that attracts bed bugs. When the insects approach the trap, they slip on the angled wall and into a sticky floor. The lure of the carbon dioxide makes this trap one of the most effective in the market. The adhesive inside is non-toxic and safe to use around children and pets.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Lures with CO2
  • Attracts for weeks
  • Sticky floor prevents bed bugs from escaping
  • Non-toxic glue
  • Safe for pets and children
  • Enclosed zipper bag for easy disposal
Cons
  • Some customers complain the activation liquid spills a lot

 

Active and Passive Traps

There are two main types of bed bug traps available in the market: active and passive traps.

Active Traps
An active bed bug trap uses a specific lure or attractant to bring bed bugs towards it. The lure can be in the form of carbon dioxide, heat or pheromones that bed bugs can’t resist. These devices trap bugs within slick-smooth walls or sticky floors. They need to be used for several days to monitor bug activity, detect its size and offer some moderate bed bug control. These traps often work using electricity, and hence can be quite expensive. Some traps are priced at over $600!

Active bed bug traps are great for environments which are not often inhabited by bed bugs. People prefer active traps since they don’t require them to act as live baits to lure out bed bugs.

Passive Traps
A passive bed bug trap does not use any sort of attractant to lure the bed bugs towards it. Unlike active traps, these traps are placed very near or directly on the places where there is bed bug activity, for example, on mattress heads or beneath bed legs. These usually consist of two outer and inner bowls with pitfall design and glue and trap the bed bugs when they are on their usual commute from the bed to the floor or from the mattress to your body.

Passive bed bug traps are also much less expensive than active traps. However, experts recommend using multiple devices at the same time to increase effectiveness. They are also not very effective for controlling large infestations.

Difference Between Bed Bug Traps And Interceptors

There is no significant difference between bed bug traps and interceptors. Some people believe interceptors “intercept” the bed bugs during their usual commute without the use of any bait. That indicates that interceptors are traps that work passively. Regardless of whether the device is active or passive, they are both bed bugs traps and yield similar results.

User Guide

How To Place Bed Bug Traps
If you are using passive traps or interceptors, as some call them, they should be placed under the bedposts to maximize performance. While using these, it is important that you move your bed slightly away from the wall so that the bed bugs have no choice but to climb up the bed legs to reach you. These receptors also only work while you are asleep as they do not come with an attractant of their own. You should also place as many devices as you can around the room in places where bed bug activity has been detected to enhance their performance.

If you are using active traps, you have the choice of placing them a bit further away from the bed. If you are using CO2 as bait, you should note that a CO2 cylinder expires after 10 hours. Some more advanced options include larger sources of CO2 that can last for days.

How to Dispose of Dead Bed Bugs
Trapped bed bugs shouldn’t just be thrown into the trash as they can always crawl out of it and infest other places. Instead, experts recommend dumping them in a plastic bag, filling it with soapy water, sealing it tight and then getting rid of it in a trash can. You can also spray trapped bed bugs with an insecticide that kills them upon contact. You can then throw them in the trash.

FAQs

Why is a bed bug infestation so difficult to eliminate?
Most bed bugs burrow further into the mattress or your bed posts when you spray them with insecticides, and the toxin is unable to penetrate that deep. With frequent fumigations, these bed bugs become immune to common insecticides, and you have to come up with new ways to kill them.
Should bed bugs traps be used alone?
Bed bugs traps are fine for small infestations, but for moderate and large bed bug outbreak, they are quite ineffective. Experts recommend using bed bug traps in conjunction with other bed bug treatments, like diatomaceous earth or natural or chemical insecticides that kill on contact.
What is the primary purpose of bed bug traps?
The main purpose of bed bug traps is to detect the extent of bed bug infestation and to take very small steps to control a small outbreak. However, their use alone is not enough to get rid of bed bugs for good.
What type of bed bug traps are the best?
Since active bed bug traps, particularly ones that issue carbon dioxide mimicking human breath, can more effectively lure in bed bugs, these are one of the best traps in the market. Other factors that need to be taken into consideration are the material of the device, its long-lasting effects, and affordability.
What should be the criteria for a good bed bug interceptor?
The best bed bug interceptors are durable and do not crack from the weight of the bed. They should have pitfall walls that ensure that bed bugs do not climb out and should come with talcum powder. They should not only reduce bed bug bites but should also determine whether you have an outbreak in the first place.

Bed bugs are probably the biggest nuisance you will encounter when it comes to pests. Their elimination requires a comprehensive plan of action, which include the use of both active and passive traps as well as other treatment options, like the use of pesticides. Keeping your house clean and vacuumed and your pets groomed at all times can play a big part in preventing these pests from taking root in your home in the first place.

If you believe the problem has gotten out of hand, it is highly recommended that you consult a professional pest extermination service.

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