Author: Nicholas Martin

Can Bed Bugs Live on Plastic and What to Do With Them
Bed bugs are little creatures that you don’t want to have in your house. They are highly invasive and hard to find due to their small scale. A lot of people wonder: “Can bed bugs live on plastic?” The simple answer is yes, but there are actually quite a few details to it.
What to Know About Bed Bugs and Plastic
Do bed bugs live on plastic? What am I supposed to do with them? Once you have to deal with these small creatures, you will only have more and more questions.
Bed bugs can survive on a lot of surfaces and materials, so getting rid of them can be hard. Don’t worry, because following all of the needed advice you will be able to solve the problem in no time.
Do Bed Bugs Survive in Plastic?
As we know, bed bugs usually tend to settle in places where they can easily access their main food source – humans. There are a lot of ways to get rid of them and capture them, and you probably have seen plenty of tips and life hacks about it.
Of course, critical thinking is our main weapon, so you should consider everything before doing it. Do bed bugs like plastic? Not really. They can’t eat it, and that makes plastic their so-called enemy.
Bed bugs also don’t have the strength to cut through it, so it is a perfect containment chamber for them.
Plastic bags can be your savers when it comes to capturing bed bugs. They can stay sealed for a long time, but it doesn’t guarantee you full protection from these parasites.
You need to make sure that there are no ways of them getting out, as you will need to start over from scratch. Usually, adult bed bugs can survive in plastic for quite a long time, from four to six months. You cannot seal the bag completely, creating a vacuum, because to do that, you will need to have professional equipment.
We figured that you cannot deny air getting into the bag, but having bed bugs in plastic is still helpful. Remember to clean everything after them and don’t throw them out into a regular bin because the bag can accidentally tear, letting all of the insects back in. Unfortunately, you can’t catch all of them, but slowly eliminating most of the colony, you can reduce the damage.
How Does Plastic Help Kill Bed Bugs?
Killing bed bugs with black plastic bags doesn’t seem like a problem, but there are some catches to it. Plastic bags won’t really help you kill them but can be the first step in solving the problem. If you put some of them into the bag, you can pour strong insecticides in there and then leave it in the sun for a couple of hours.
Bed bugs don’t like high temperatures, that’s why a lot of professionals from pest control use steam machines against them. When combining heat with heavy chemicals, you should be careful not to harm yourself.
Plastic can be used as a surface that won’t let bed bugs spread around because they won’t find anything to eat. The main way to kill bed bugs is to either suffocate them or starve them. Having plastic bags around is a good practice in case you need to store the caught specimens somewhere.
Bed bugs can live in plastic, and that can be a problem. For example, they infest microwaves, plastic toys, space behind drawers, plant pots. They will be looking for a cozy dark place where you can’t reach them. In this case, you should consider wiping your plastic equipment with bleach or strong chemicals to scare them off.
Should I Use Plastic Against Bed Bugs?
If you are looking for something to help you with bed bugs, plastic surely can be of help. First of all, plastic bags are the thing that will help you capture insects. Ziplocs guarantee that they won’t get out, and in plastic bins, they won’t be able to crawl out from the slippery inside.
Plastic can withstand harsh treatment, such as water and cold, so this material won’t let you up when something terrible happens. Just make sure that the caught bed bugs don’t have any ways out, like small holes. Store your plastic containers in places where children or animals can’t reach them.
On the contrary, plastic can be the container for your clean clothes that you don’t want to contaminate while dealing with bed bugs. Store them in a clean and dust-free place, so no insects will get in there.
You can also put the suspected things with bed bugs in the bags, then you won’t have to worry about them spreading from the piece of clothing or plastic toy.
Unfortunately, because you can’t create a vacuum in the bag, it won’t help you kill bed bugs, but restricting them from their main food source, blood, will help you a great deal.
They become sluggish and eventually fall into a state reminiscent of unconsciousness, remaining still until they sense the potential blood source nearby. The first thing you have to do is catch the adult specimens because they lay eggs in great amounts, and if they won’t be eliminated, you will have to deal with a lot more bed bugs.
Then move on to nymphs, which grow from little white eggs. If you restrain them in the early stages from blood, they won’t fully develop and thus can’t reproduce more.
Plastic Bed Covers Against Bed Bugs
A great thing to have are plastic bed bug bed covers. They are usually made for mattresses from a special type of plastic that is not harmful to people. Such cases ensure that your mattress will stay clean and won’t let anything get into the carcass of the bed.
If you have bed bugs in the mattress, these plastic covers, of course, complete their function and don’t allow them to get through the material to you. Bed bugs won’t even be able to crawl through zippers because they are made specifically to deny any ways of different parasites getting on the bed.
Although, in case of bed bugs coming from the outside, such covers won’t help you much. You can be sure that bed bugs won’t get into the mattress, but they will still freely explore the covers of the bed while you sleep.
Plastic covers are helpful for traveling because they don’t take up too much space, so if you are unsure about the safety of your bed in a hotel, you can simply bring them out.
They will protect you from any potential parasites that might live in an old mattress. And we know that it is better to prevent the issue beforehand than to deal with it after.
If you have children, plastic covers are a good choice for ensuring their health. Children are very curious and can bring almost anything on the bed, including different insects.
Bed bugs are common at a young age, as children won’t even notice them getting on them. Kindergartens are usually the source of such infestations, so always check your child when they come back home. Plastic bed covers are easy to wash and don’t stain that badly, so you don’t have to worry about your children covering them in paint or food.
FAQ
Various plastics are incredibly abundant in our surroundings, which is why many people have misconceptions about plastic and bed bugs. Here are the top questions we get asked.
Will bed bugs lay eggs on plastic?
Bed bugs tend to lay their eggs in tight places that are hard to access. It can be on plastic because they don’t care about which material the nymphs will hatch on, as long as they can get to a blood source.
How long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag?
Adult bed bugs can survive in sealed plastic bags for several months, so it is better not to forget to throw them out after you’ve successfully captured them.
Can bed bugs live in plastic toys?
Bed bugs prefer to live in dark small corners and things, and, unfortunately, they can be plastic toys. You should sanitize and regularly clean children’s toys to avoid getting bed bugs in the house.
Can bed bugs eat through plastic?
Bed bugs feed on blood because they are invasive parasites. They will not eat through the plastic but will wait for the moment you accidentally let them out.
Help Bed Bugs Leave Your House
Bed bugs are not the most welcome guests in our houses. It is better to prevent them from getting in beforehand. Plastic can help you contain and separate bed bugs from your other clothes and successfully get them out of your home.
What other tips from bed bugs would you like to know? What do you usually use against them? Please, share your opinion with us in the comments below.
Also read:
References
- Bedbugs beware: New research may beat back bedbug epidemic (University Park, Pennsylvania)
  https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/bedbugs-beware-new-research-may-beat-back-bedbug-epidemic/
- A Case Study of Bedbug Infestation in the Student Dormitories of Iran-2018 (Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research)
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336606522_A_Case_Study_of_Bedbug_Infestation_in_the_Student_Dormitories_of_Iran-2018
- Bed Bugs: Clinical Relevance and Control Options (Stephen L. Doggett,corresponding authora Dominic E. Dwyer, Pablo F. Peñas, and Richard C. Russelld)
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3255965/
2022-04-26
What Scent Keeps Bed Bugs Away: Effective Natural Repellents
There are several problems associated with bed bugs. They multiply rapidly, are incredibly tenacious, and have a keen sense of smell, thanks to which they find new victims without issues.
Use the latter property to your advantage. To fight these pests, professional insecticides are used, but you can supplement them with natural remedies, the smell of which repels insects.
So you won’t only get rid of unwanted neighbors but also prevent their reappearance. From my article, you will learn what scent keeps bed bugs away and how to apply them for the greatest effect.
Guide on How to Repel Bed Bugs With Natural Scents
Bed bugs have a very keen sense of smell for a creature of such a small size. The scent of the human body, things, and clothes attracts them.
However, there are things bed bugs don’t like, such as rubbing alcohol, lavender, vinegar, neem oil, and so on. Many of these odors are quite acceptable to humans. Knowing what repels bed bugs, you can effectively deal with annoying pests.
What smells do bed bugs hate?
These insects, like many others, are intolerant of sharp scents. This property has been familiar to people since ancient times; therefore, in the Middle Ages, for example, it was recommended to rub yourself with perfume.
I do not advise you to do it so as not to waste a product. There are cheaper ways to get rid of insects. So, what scents do bed bugs hate?
Rubbing alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is considered one of the effective pest control means. However, it is not so much due to its strong smell but its chemical properties. It has a double effect on insects: it dissolves chitinous shells and dries out the bodies.
True, to achieve these effects, a spray should fall on bugs. That is, it works with direct contact. Because alcohol evaporates quickly, you can’t put it on a surface and wait for pests to crawl over it.
Besides, rubbing alcohol is a flammable substance, so it should be used with extreme caution.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has a strong enough aroma to mask the human smell of sweat and blood. You can use it both undiluted and diluted. Just remember that the less concentrated the solution, the weaker its effect.
Its smell repels insects and has a devastating impact if it directly hits exoskeletons. You can spray not only pillows, mattresses, and furniture with tea tree spray but also wash bedspreads and bedding using this product. The smell will remain on a fabric for a while and will continue to repel pests.
Lavender oil
These beautiful flowers are known for their repellent properties. Why do bed bugs hate lavender? Like many other plants used to produce pest control products, it contains Linalool in its composition.
Many insects are intolerant to it and try to leave the place where there is such a scent. And you can use both essential oil and plants. Plant lavender bushes in your yard, in a flowerpot, or arrange dried bouquets around the room. This strong smell will help you get rid of annoying pests.
Blood orange oil
All citrus fruits repel a wide variety of pests well due to their persistent scent. But it was blood orange that proved its effectiveness in the fight against bed bugs. It is even confirmed by scientific studies.
Just as with other essential oils, you should treat the contaminated area with a pure product or dilute it with water or, for example, alcohol. You can make a homemade spray, light an oil burner, use a diffuser, or dab oil on pillows, mattresses, furniture, window frames, and cracks in walls (if any).
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fine white powder. It does not have a pronounced smell, unlike previous items, but it is highly effective in killing insects with chitinous shells and is absolutely safe for people and pets.
The peculiarity of DE is not in the chemical but the mechanical effect on pests. Small particles easily cut through exoskeletons and quickly absorb inside liquids. Scatter the powder where you see insects. It is effective with direct contact, so try not to disturb it and avoid water ingress.
Vinegar
Few creatures can stand the acrid smell of vinegar. Bed bugs also quickly scatter from it, so this option seems to be an effective way to control pests.
It suppresses the nervous system of insects and, if it comes into contact with bodies, corrodes them. However, not all people tolerate the smell of vinegar.
Besides, if applied undiluted, it can damage wood surfaces and dyed fabrics. Therefore, always mix it with water in a ratio of 1 to three. Then the deterrent properties of the product will be preserved, and the likelihood of damage will be minimal.
Garlic
The effectiveness of garlic in the fight against pests is also scientifically substantiated. The fact is that when the clove cells are destroyed (for example, when cut or grated), Allicin is produced.
The substance is responsible for the characteristic smell and repels insects. It decomposes rather slowly at room temperature, so it retains its effect for some time. Of course, not everyone likes the garlic scent, but it really works.
When combined with vinegar, it provides long-lasting protection against bugs, so you can make a spray based on them and treat infested areas.
Powdered pepper
Have you noticed that you begin to sneeze when you inhale freshly ground pepper? Pepper irritates the mucous membrane, stimulates nerve cells, and causes a reflex.
Bed bugs have different respiratory systems, but they get irritated by fine pepper dust like ours. So it’s a great alternative to garlic and vinegar for insect control.
And unlike many other products, it is definitely in every home and quite inexpensive. Sprinkle crushed pepper in areas where pests are found and spray it on baseboards, crevices, joints, and other places where bed bugs crawl.
Lemon
As I wrote above, citrus fruits are excellent at repelling insects, and their smell is pleasant to most people. If with blood orange, I recommend using an essential oil; you can use lemon in its natural form.
You need to squeeze the juice, mix it with a bit of water, and spray it on all surfaces in the house. It is desirable to prepare such a mixture right before use and not store it in a refrigerator.
Thanks to its powerful smell and astringent properties, you can get rid of annoying neighbors. Please note that only natural lemon juice is suitable for it, not the one sold in cartons.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon combines such repellent scents as benzyl benzoate, eugenol, and cinnamaldehyde. They are literally in everything: dried flowers, sticks, and essential oils.
You can sprinkle the powder on carpets, and bedding, near doors and windows and put sachets with sticks inside wardrobes and shelves with clothes. You can also soak cotton pads in cinnamon essential oil. While most of these methods simply repel pests, the oil kills insects on contact, as it is a strong irritant. Since the smell disappears over time, do not forget to repeat applications.
Peppermint
Do bed bugs like peppermint? No, because it contains menthol and terpenes. These substances are so powerful that they create a repulsive barrier for many insects. Like many other products described, they have an irritating effect on pests, so they prefer to bypass treated surfaces.
There are different opinions, but it is believed that you can use both essential oil and fresh peppermint leaves. Oil should be mixed with water and sprayed on furniture and soft objects. And the leaves can be chopped to activate the release of repulsive substances and spread out near the infestation sites.
Neem oil
Neem oil is a natural pesticide and insecticide that I regularly use to control various pests. It is made from a neem tree and is EPA approved because it is 100% organic.
In the composition, you will find many useful elements, but the most effective of them is Azadirachtin. Neem oil not only repels pests with its smell but also interferes with the work of organisms upon contact. It inhibits nutrition and the hormonal system functioning, which disrupts the process of laying eggs and, accordingly, the development of a colony.
Other scents
What scents do bed bugs not like besides those described above? Here are other effective products:
- tar;
- rosemary;
- thyme;
- kerosene;
- turpentine;
- chlorine;
- ammonia.
The smells described repel insects but do not kill them, as diatomaceous earth and neem oil do. Therefore, using several methods as an integrated approach is the best solution.
When working with strong and concentrated scents, remember they can cause headaches, nausea, allergic reactions, weakness, and dizziness. Also, pets react badly to pungent smells.
FAQ on Bed Bug Repellent Scents
If you encounter an infestation problem, find more information on this topic in the FAQ block.
Do bed bugs have a smell?
Yes, these insects release pheromones to communicate with other colony members, attract mating partners, and scare off enemies. That is why there is a specific sour smell in rooms with a lot of these pests.
Why do bed bugs smell when you kill them?
The pheromones that bed bugs secrete are needed for scaring away potential enemies. Smelly substances splash out in large quantities when you destroy chitinous shells. Even a dead insect still stinks for some time.
What essential is oil good for bed bugs?
In short, all essential oils that have a pungent smell repel bed bugs. These include tea tree, blood orange, peppermint, lavender, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and neem oils. The latter not only repels insects but also slows down their development, contributing to the colony’s death.
Get Rid of Bed Bugs Effectively
Given the speed of reproduction and the survivability of these pests, I consider an integrated approach to be the best control option. Now you know what scents bed bugs do not like, and you can use them in conjunction with other methods.
While steaming, freezing, professional insecticides, and diatomaceous earth kill insects; essential oils will protect your home from re-invasion.
Do you think it is effective to use natural products to repel pests? If you’ve had to get bed bugs out, please share your methods with the readers!
Also read:
References
- Controlling Bed Bugs Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) (United States Enviromental Protection Agency)
  https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/controlling-bed-bugs-using-integrated-pest-management-ipm
- Diatomaceous Earth (Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
  npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html#howwork
- Toxicities of Selected Essential Oils, Silicone Oils, and Paraffin Oil against the Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) (Chen Zha, Changlu Wang, Andrew Li)
  https://academic.oup.com/jee/article/111/1/170/4662900?login=true
2022-04-26
How to Get Rid of Bedbugs in a Couch
Bed bugs are nasty tiny pests. All they need is a comfortable temperature, food (human blood), and hiding places to breed. Our houses, especially beds and couches, are heavenly places for them.
These insects can appear even in perfectly clean rooms. It’s not easy to deal with them since they are extremely tenacious and multiply rapidly.
In this article, I will go into detail on how to get rid of bedbugs in a couch, which methods are most effective, and how to prevent infestation in the future.
How to Get Bed Bugs Out of Couch: Easy Extermination Guide
To get rid of couch bugs, you should take a multi-step approach. First, you need to physically remove bed bugs from a couch by vacuuming, washing, and steaming or freezing. After that, use chemical products against bed bugs in furniture like sprays and dust. Use interceptors to prevent the problem from recurring.
How do I know if I have bed bugs in the couch?
These insects are quite small (up to 0.3 inches), so you may not notice one crawling bug. Pests can appear in your home regardless of its sanitary condition.
You can bring their eggs or larvae on shoes or with groceries from a store, or they can crawl in from your neighbors. They multiply so quickly that the infestation will make itself felt after a few days.
Bites. Red spots on the skin from insect bites are the first sign that you have a bed bug nest in a couch. One pest can leave from three to five wounds. Bites can cause a severe allergic reaction: they become inflamed and enlarged; sometimes, the temperature may rise due to infection.
Smell. People who are especially sensitive to extraneous smells can feel the appearance of bed bugs by a specific odor. They say that a room starts to smell like cheap cognac or nutmeg. Some argue that the sour smell is reminiscent of fermented berries.
Visual infestation signs. Bed bugs do not tend to organize nests as ants do. However, they prefer to stick together in secluded places. Even if you can’t see the insects themselves, you may find accumulations of eggs, shells, and excrement (small black dots) under a bed frame or cushions. You may also notice small blood stains from bites on the bedding.
These pests are active at night. So if all the described signs of bed bugs in a couch don’t convince you of an infestation, spread a white sheet over your bed or couch in the evening. At night, go into the room and turn on the light abruptly; insects simply won’t have time to scatter, and you will see them.
How to treat bed bugs in a sofa
Now that you have verified that there is a problem, you should move on to fixing it. When dealing with hardy pests like bed bugs, I always recommend taking a holistic approach.
It is essential to use both mechanical and chemical methods to remove insects. Follow the steps below to get rid of a headache.
Washing and vacuuming
Cleaning should begin by removing bedspreads, pillowcases, linens, and other covers, washing them at the highest temperature allowed, and processing them in a dryer. Heats of 115°F and above are considered lethal to these pests, both for the adults and eggs (usually better protected).
Those parts that cannot be washed in a machine should be thoroughly vacuumed. Try to work every corner of a couch and bed, including the frame, all mattress seams, decorative folds, etc.
Use different nozzles to penetrate even hard-to-reach places. If possible, use a HEPA filter, which helps to remove even the smallest particles. When emptying your vacuum cleaner, be extremely careful not to scatter the collected insects accidentally.
Put them in an airtight bag and take them as far away from home as possible. Do not forget to process the device itself so that pests do not get stuck in the internal mechanisms.
Steaming
Since bed bugs do not survive extreme temperature changes, steaming furniture is one of the most effective methods. Of course, the best option is to use a steam generator.
If you do not have one, you can use a heat gun, an iron, and even a hairdryer. When using the last two tools, remember they are not intended for long-term use; you have to take breaks.
Be careful when steaming, as some fabrics, especially those containing elastane and similar materials, may lose their form.
If you live in a warm climate and do disinsection in the summer, you can pack cushions and other removable furniture parts in airtight plastic bags and expose them outside to the sun. After some time, the temperature inside will become high enough to kill the remaining insects.
Freezing
By strong temperature changes, which are deadly for pests, I also mean a decrease in temperature. Making freezing effective at home can be tricky.
But if you have the opportunity to use, for example, industrial refrigerators, or you live in a frosty climate, you can freeze infested items. Keep them in this condition for at least three days at a temperature not exceeding 5°F. The stronger the frost, the faster you will destroy pests.
Chemicals
In addition to the methods described, you should also use chemicals. In stores, they are presented in the form of sprays, powders, traps, and gels. The first two showed their greatest efficiency due to their high permeability even in narrow gaps.
When choosing an effective bed bug spray for couches, pay attention to its composition. You should look for products containing Fenthion, Imiprothrin, Cyphenothrin, Cypermethrin, Malathion, or Piperonyl butoxide (in combination with Pyrethrins).
Although all of the listed ingredients have low human toxicity, I still recommend using a specific PPE when working with them. This way you will avoid getting products into the body and possible allergic reactions. It is better to remove pets from the house during the treatment period.
If you’re looking for a safer way to kill insects, check out diatomaceous earth (DE). It is absolutely non-toxic since it has not a chemical but a mechanical effect on insects. Finely dispersed powder scratches their chitinous shells and absorbs all liquids.
Bed bug interceptors
The final step to getting rid of bed bugs is to set up traps. The most effective, in my opinion, is the so-called bed bug interceptors. They are small double-walled plastic “cups” into which the legs of a bed or sofa are set.
Insects freely crawl inside but cannot get out. As a result, you can be sure that pests will not migrate to other furniture.
How to prevent further infestations
In the fight against insects, it is important not only to destroy them correctly but also to prevent their reappearance. Take the following actions:
- carefully treat ventilation holes with insecticides and close them with a fine mesh;
- hermetically seal cracks in walls, near doors, and window frames;
- use natural repellents: lavender, kerosene, turpentine, ammonia, geranium, wormwood, vinegar, and so on;
- do not remove interceptors from the bed legs.
If you find bed bug eggs on a couch, notify your neighbors. There is a high probability that complex processing of adjacent premises will be required.
Also, remember that bed bugs, like many other pests, become resistant to chemicals over time. Contact professionals if you fail to get rid of them in three or four tries.
FAQ on Getting Rid of Bed Bugs in Furniture
See my answers to common questions for more information on dealing with these blood-sucking pests.
Should I throw away my couch if it has bed bugs?
Unfortunately, furniture does have to be thrown out if you or professionals can’t thoroughly treat it with insecticides. If the situation is neglected, mattresses and couches are subject to recycling. Don’t throw them in the trash, as you’ll spread the infestation.
How long does it take bed bugs to infest a couch?
It depends on the specific insect type you have. On average, one female can lay up to 10 eggs per day. An insect can complete a full cycle in two months. So in a couple of months, you will have a whole colony of pests with different stages of development in your bed.
Can new furniture have bed bugs?
Unfortunately, it’s possible if manufacturers or suppliers do not comply with storage conditions. Insects could get inside the furniture even during the delivery process if a truck were previously infested with them.
Use Integrated Approach to Get Rid Of Couch Bugs Forever
The methods I have described work effectively and destroy pests in combination with each other. Timely identification of the problem will help you get rid of bed bugs on your own.
In addition to the direct treatment of the couch where you found insects, you should also disinfect other furniture and the entire room. Otherwise, your struggle will be very long, and you will have to turn to specialists.
Have you ever experienced a bed bug infestation in a couch, sofa, or mattress? How did you deal with this problem? What methods have been the most effective for you?
Also read:
References
- Bed bug (Wikipedia)
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_bug#Insect
- Personal Protective Equipment for Pesticide Applicators (Montana State University)
  https://www.pesticides.montana.edu/reference/ppe.html
- Malathion (Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
  npic.orst.edu/factsheets/malagen.html
- What is a HEPA filter? (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
  https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-hepa-filter
- Bed Bugs: A Public Health Issue (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
  https://swap.stanford.edu/20151016075136/https://www2.epa.gov/bedbugs/bed-bugs-public-health-issue
2022-04-26
Bed Bugs Predators: What Eats Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are tiny biting insects that can turn your life into a nightmare. They are hard to get rid of in the first place as they are very tenacious and can exist without food for about a year.
If you suffer from them and want to know all the ways in which you can get rid of them, you can ask for help from bed bugs predators. In this article, I will tell you everything I know about such insects and animals.
Although they can be effective against blood-sucking parasites, they are unreliable allies.
Guide on Natural Enemies of Bed Bugs
A complete list of bed bug enemies can include a variety of creatures: from ants and moths to centipedes and lizards. Although you have many assistants in pest control, many of the bugs that eat bed bugs are unwanted neighbors themselves.
You may know what eats bed bugs, but it’s worth considering whether it’s good to have in your home.
Insects that eat bed bugs
What insects eat bed bugs? In fact, the list of creatures that can help you in the fight against these pests is quite extensive. Some are really effective at eating bed bugs; others may just eat them if they are available. In this section, I talked about all known enemies.
Argentine ants
Many species of ants can indeed quickly gobble up a colony of bed bugs. Argentine ants are no exception. However, I would not recommend running them in your home as you will be replacing one problem with another.
The fact is that several females can live in one anthill at once, which means that the process of reproduction in them proceeds many times faster.
Yes, other insects will definitely disappear. But along with it, you will notice the massive damage these poisonous ants cause to the environment, animals, and agriculture.
Red imported fire ants
It is another type of ant that kills pests and harms other inhabitants of your region. Red imported fire ants, along with argentine ants, are considered one of the most dangerous ants.
They are highly aggressive, hardy, and can survive even in extreme conditions. For instance, when a flood occurs, they create rafts. They have not only effective poison but also very powerful jaws.
Mammals, birds, and amphibians trapped by these ants die. Their bites can be not only painful but also fatal to sensitive people.
Pharaoh ants
It is the most common type of ant and is sure to be in every house. Although they are smaller than the previous two and much less aggressive, they are considered the most effective bed bug hunters.
It is possible that they already help you with pest control. However, leaving a pharaoh ants colony unattended and untreated is also not recommended. If they breed, they will become a severe problem, as they can carry diseases that are dangerous to humans.
As a summary for ants, I want to answer the most common question, “Do ants eat bed bugs?” Yes, they do. But it happens occasionally. In general, they are capable of causing even more damage than bugs, so it is not recommended to use them specifically for pest control.
American cockroaches
Omnivorous American cockroaches are considered enemies of bed bugs, as they are one of the fastest species and therefore able to catch other small and nimble pests.
Do cockroaches eat bed bugs? Yes, from time to time. Like many other predators, they simply eat what is closest to them. If it’s a bed bug, then they’ll eat it. Otherwise, cockroaches do more harm than good, as they spread dangerous diseases, ruin human food, and provoke allergic reactions.
Thanatus flavidus spiders
Thanatus flavidus spiders spread their webs near large concentrations of insects. Do spiders eat bed bugs? Yes, and there is a theory that they move further along the trail when they kill all the pests in the vicinity.
Spiderlings hatch from eggs around the same time as bed bugs. The location of a spider nest next to their hive guarantees that the young ones will have something to eat. Moreover, T. flavidus do not wait for victims on their webs but hunt them themselves.
House centipedes
Unlike many other listed insects, house centipedes are almost completely harmless to humans. On rare occasions, they bite but generally prefer to stay away from light and open spaces.
People are frightened by their creepy appearance, but killing them for that alone is not worth it. They do an excellent job of hunting various insects, including bed bugs.
However, it is worth remembering that they do not feed only on them and prefer to live in dark, damp rooms (where bed bugs do not live).
Scolopendras
These are other predators that eat almost any insect. Scolopendras are often confused with house centipedes due to their long bodies and many legs.
However, they tend to be much longer (up to 12 inches), covered in chitinous shells, have spines on their legs, and are venomous. If a scolopendra crawls over your skin, it will leave a chemical burn.
It is unlikely that you would want such a creature to help you battle against bed bugs. Besides, scolopendras kill house centipedes, which are harmless to humans.
Painted meal moths
Although in most cases, moths are completely indifferent to bed bugs, it is Pyralis pictalis (or painted meal moth) that helps people deal with them.
The larvae of this species have been known to seek out and eat bed bug eggs (provided there is no other more available food nearby). Adults do not show such interest in these pests, so they should also be destroyed on time.
Masked bed bug hunters
Masked bed bug hunters may look a little nicer than centipedes, but they’re still not the best roommates. They got their name for a reason, as they really are a threat to bed bugs.
The fact is that their nymphs hide in the dust, including under the bed, from where it is convenient to hunt small pests. And although they have proven effective in exterminating domestic insects, they still pose some danger to humans. They can carry dangerous diseases and bite painfully if they feel threatened.
Animals that eat bed bugs
What animals eat bed bugs? There are many insectivorous animals in nature; however, they mainly feed on larger creatures than bed bugs. Reptiles like small lizards and frogs can be helpful in pest control.
There is a version that geckos are good at this task. However, their effectiveness has not been proven since small lizards prefer to hunt on open surfaces and walls, and bed bugs are hidden in dark corners. Besides, they require special conditions for their maintenance.
Birds and small rodents are considered natural enemies of small insects. Do mice eat bed bugs? If they had free access, they would probably eat them.
However, they practically do not intersect in the natural environment, so it is impractical to use them intentionally to fight these particular pests. It should always be remembered that bed bugs are rarely the main food of any creature; they are one of the options.
Do common pets eat bed bugs?
Cats and dogs may hunt bed bugs, not to eat them but rather to play with them. It is difficult to imagine a situation where a pet would prefer a domestic pest to the much tastier and more nutritious food that an owner offers.
However, it is believed that dogs can detect clusters of insects, so they can be useful in determining bug infestation.
FAQ on Natural Enemies of Bed Bugs
In theory, bed bugs do have many enemies besides humans. In practice, all these creatures are the same pests you should get rid of. Read my answers to the most common questions to better understand the problem.
What eats bed bug eggs?
Insect eggs are very nutritious, so many animals and other insects feed on them. Considering that many of the creatures listed in my guide are omnivores, they also eat eggs. Pharaoh ants, painted meal moths, and cockroaches stand out among them.
Can cats smell bed bugs?
By nature, cats are not hunters of bed bugs. However, you can correct their behavior and teach them to identify infestations with some training. Unfortunately, no one can guarantee the success of such an activity.
What plant kills bed bugs?
There are over 600 species of carnivorous plants like sundews or Venus flytraps that eat pests. However, it will take a lot of them to destroy one colony.
There is a concept that bed bugs “stick” to scattered kidney bean plant leaves because they have a hairy surface (with trichomes). Geranium, lemongrass, lavender, and cinnamon repel these insects.
Stop Bed Bug Infestation With Effective Methods
The idea that bed bugs can be removed naturally is not bad. However, using other insects for it is at least illogical. You simply replace one issue with another.
The situation can become more complicated, and it will be even more tricky to remove new pests. Do not waste time and nerves in vain and use proven and more effective methods like insecticides. If the infestation is uncontrollable, call the professionals.
If you have experienced bed bug infestation, please tell me how you dealt with the problem. What methods did you use? What personal tips have you developed?
Also read:
References
- Entrapment of bed bugs by leaf trichomes inspires microfabrication of biomimetic surfaces (Megan W. Szyndler, Kenneth F. Haynes, Michael F. Potter, Robert M. Corn and Catherine Loudon)
  https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2013.0174
- Megarian Banded Centipede (Scolopendra cingulata) (Andre McMillion and Jaelen Yach of the University of Wisconsin)
  bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2014/mcmillio_andr/nutrition.htm
- Health risks of cockroaches? (The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York)
  https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/health-risks-cockroaches
- Fire Ant Facts (Mississippi State University)
  extension.msstate.edu/content/fire-ant-facts
2022-04-26
How to Get Bed Bugs Out of Carpet: Helpful Recommendations
If you are looking for the working recipe of how to get bed bugs out of carpet, you came to the right place. While bed bugs are usually a surprise you or your relatives brought home from traveling, you are the one who can stop them.
They are hardly visible, too fast, and quickly spread around the house. Don’t worry! You can still deal with them if you know the right approach.
There are several ways you can get rid of this menace for good. Follow my recommendations and you will not need professional help. I am going to teach you how to get rid of bed bugs in carpet without extra effort.
Getting Rid of Bed Bugs in Carpet in No Time
If you want to stop these nasty creatures, you have to act immediately. The first thing you need is to use a vacuum cleaner if you see bed bugs in rug. Don’t forget to use diatomaceous earth before to make sure you kill as many as possible.
Now vacuum the carpet several times. If you still see a bug, repeat the procedure. Use bed bug carpet cleaner for severe cases.
Going to the war against bed bugs
Bed bugs can crawl inside the carpet in no time. Once they get into your house, they can feel comfortable on your bed, as well as on your sofa, armchair, and carpet. Still, they are simple to find if you know how to look.
The main problem with the carpet is that it has a wide area for hiding. If you start without appropriate knowledge, you can just relocate bed bugs. It is crucial to make preparations before you start. You will need:
- Bed bug cleaners. You can choose diatomaceous earth or a specific cleaner from the store;
- Double-sided tape;
- Vacuum cleaner;
- Steam cleaner, if you have;
- Shampoo.
Can you get bed bugs under your carpet?
Before we get to the carpet, let’s talk about every possible situation when bed bugs crawl under it. Can they do it? Yes, you have to consider this possibility. It usually happens when:
- Your carpet has a gap between it and the wall;
- The carpet has holes in it;
- The carpet is old and worn away.
This is the situation when you have to find bed bug carpet treatment as well as treatment for the floor. Keep in mind that bed bugs can easily crawl inside different cracks and crevices.
If you have cracks in your floor, you know where bed bugs disappear. To get rid of them, you have to inspect your carpet carefully for any holes and tears.
If it happens, you may need professional help, since it is hard to get rid of them without specific tools while they settle down inside the floor. You may also need heat treatment to eliminate bugs.
Step by step guide on how to remove bed bugs out of carpet
Before you start, you need to make sure that there is no furniture in the room that bed bugs can use as their hiding place. Carpet is usually not the first choice of these pests. They prefer beds and chairs with cracks. If you can’t remove the bed from the room, you can at least cover it and seal it with double tape.
Let’s clarify a popular myth about the “almighty” vacuum cleaner. If you hope that vacuuming can kill bugs, you are wrong. Bed bugs can easily travel inside a vacuum cleaner from one place to another or just settle down inside of them.
For a year, they don’t even need to move away. Yet, if they don’t relocate after a year, they will die from starvation. This is why it is safe to combine different approaches and to buy carpet powder for bed bugs.
Step 1. Preparations
You have to prepare your house for the battle. As I’ve told you before, get rid of all the possible hiding places of bed bugs. Make sure they don’t have any place to go. Pay attention to all the fabric in the room. You have to get rid of bugs from:
- The mattress, a favorite place for bed bugs;
- Bedding;
- Furniture;
- Clothes;
- Cracks inside walls.
Use the specific bed bugs killing spray for all these items in the room. Leave the room for the required time. Check out for dead bed bugs. If there are no dead pests, use the spray again. As for the bedding and clothes, you can easily get rid of bed bugs by washing them at high temperatures.
Step 2. Clean your room
After you get rid of the furniture, clothing, bedding, and spray the mattress, you have to clear the space. Tape all the holes, all the gaps in wardrobes and walls. Clear your room wisely:
- Spray the furniture that can’t be removed and hide it from bed bugs. You don’t need to buy expensive treatment. You can use the tea tree oil on furniture. Bed bugs can’t stand it;
- Take away all the curtains, bedding, clothing you can find in the room and launder it. Bed bugs can be killed by heat;
- Put your stuff in bags. While bed bugs can’t suffocate, they will not spread in airtight bags. It includes all the boxes you can carry out.
Step 3. Set up traps
Do you know why double-sided tape can help you in this fight? You can use it as a bed bug trap. Since both sides of the tape are sticky, you have to press one side to the floor or near the bed, leaving the other side open and ready for bed bugs.
These pests can’t save themselves from the glue on the tape. While it looks like a perfect plan, some bed bugs may be smarter than that and try to find the other way. Make sure they have nowhere to go. Use the tape in such places:
- Outside the door in case they will try to run away;
- On the room’s edges;
- Near any hole or crack in the floor, wall, or ceiling.
Step 4. Use a weapon
Now you can check out for the best weapons against bed bugs. The most popular options:
- Diatomaceous earth;
- Silica gel.
You can also try natural remedies like tea tree oil. Still, both silica gel and diatomaceous earth are highly effective against these pests and can be found in every store that sells similar remedies. The main task of both these “killers” is to dehydrate bed bugs as soon as possible.
Silica gel usually comes in paper bags and is sometimes added to the packages. Its main task is to get rid of moisture in the air. Applied on bed bugs, silica gel removes the bug’s shell from the water supply. In the end, the bug dehydrates and dies.
As for the diatomaceous earth, it may be familiar to cat or dog owners. This remedy is used against numerous pests, including fleas. It dehydrates the pest, leaving almost nothing. At the same time, since it is made of ancient microalgae fossils, you can consider it an eco-friendly remedy.
Step 5. Vacuum
Now it is time for vacuum cleaning. You have to make sure that you picked the right type of cleaner. Since bed bugs can live in a vacuum cleaner, you have to make sure that they will not run away anywhere from the device.
Use only vacuum cleaners with bags and empty them the moment you finish cleaning. Throw the bag far from your or any other house. Don’t open the bag. Don’t forget to wash everything in hot water after you finish. You may use the steam to get rid of bed bugs if you have one.
Step 6. Wash everything
Use shampoo to wash the carpet. Make sure there are no bed bug carpet stains left. Do it with hot water. Once you finish, you have to use a vacuum cleaner again. Check out whether there are no bugs. If they are still there, you have to repeat the procedure several times.
How to inspect the room for remaining bed bugs
Searching for remaining bed bugs is not as hard as you think. You have to throw away the double-sided tape you’ve used, and attach the new one to the places you believe were infested the most.
If there are bed bugs left, you will catch them. Another option is to use a vacuum cleaner and check the bag. Carefully clean all the possible hiding places of bed bugs and check the bag later.
If you did not get rid of bugs, you have to repeat all your moves again. Don’t forget to launder bedding once everything is done. Keep an eye on the most dangerous places, including beds, furniture, cracks.
Keeping bed bugs from spreading to carpet
The best thing to keep the bugs from spreading is to act immediately once you notice the danger. You have to make sure that you not only remove the bed bugs but the source of their appearance.
If they keep coming to your house, check out whether your family, friends, colleagues do not bring them to you. Make sure your neighbors do not have bed bugs and spread them around.
Once everything is clean, keep everything in order. Don’t forget to clean your room twice a week to prevent bed bugs. Make sure you change your bedding at least once in two weeks.
FAQ on Bed Bugs in the Carpet
Here are a few questions I have met lots of times on the Internet. I hope my answers will be helpful. If you have more suggestions to make, you can do it in the comments below the article.
Can You Get Bed Bugs from Renting a Carpet Cleaner?
This is a common question. Many people who rent carpet cleaners usually do it to get rid of bed bugs. The truth is that bed bugs do not live in the carpet cleaner. They are killed by the steam.
However, some people still fear that some bed bugs will crawl and hide in the machine. It happens rarely and is almost impossible. However, no one can give you a 100 percent guarantee.
This is why it is important to use the steam before you enter the room. If you are worried about it, you can always buy a machine instead of renting it.
Should I pull up my carpet if I have bed bugs?
No, you can’t do it until you make sure that all bed bugs are gone. This procedure will only infest the room more since bed bugs can hide in cracks. Instead, I recommend you use the double-side tape near the carpet and find out whether there are bed bugs. Use the vacuum cleaner and shampoo.
If you believe that bed bugs are already under the carpet, you still have to clean the carpet first and get rid of the bugs. Use the spray to kill bed bugs, applying it into the cracks as well.
Do not remove the carpet if it is infested, since all you can do is only worth spreading the bugs in other rooms. However, if you don’t like the carpet and it is old, you can throw it in the bag. Make sure that the bag is closed and bugs can’t get out.
What surfaces can bed bugs live on?
Bed bugs can survive on numerous surfaces. They can crawl on plastic, metal, wood, tiles. They prefer fabric, though. Fabric can become a perfect hiding spot for them.
This is why the bedding is the first thing you have to check. Bed bugs can also survive in cracks and can live in the walls. They can hide inside the furniture. Yet, they prefer not to go on slippery surfaces like glass.
Removing Bed Bugs From Carpet With Ease
There is nothing too expensive or complicated in getting rid of annoying bed bugs. While they can turn your life into a nightmare, biting you while you sleep, it is easy to catch them and kill or carry them away. It is up to you which measures to use.
I have described the most popular and reliable tools I have tried myself. I hope my recommendations and step-by-step guidance will help you. Make sure you use only those sprays you can trust.
If bed bugs are still there, repeat the described procedure several times. If you have more recommendations for those who struggle with bed bugs, share them in the comments below. Have you ever had bed bugs? How did you get rid of them?
Also read:
References
- Bed bug protocol (Bureau of Environmental Health)
  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/bed-bug-protocol
- How to Find Bed Bugs (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
  https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- Prevent Bed Bugs (Kevin Carrillo)
  https://www.wikihow.life/Prevent-Bed-Bugs
- Bed bugs attracted to dirty laundry (University of Sheffield)
  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170928142058.htm
2022-04-26
Do Bed Bugs Lay Eggs in Your Skin: Everything You Wanted to Know
It is ok to be worried about such a possibility once you find the insects in your bed. Do bed bugs lay eggs in your skin? They feed on human blood. So, basically, bed bugs depend on humans.
They leave blood traces on your sheets and may bite you while you are sleeping. This is why it is normal to wonder how far these nasty creatures can go.
Seeing all these questions about bed bugs, I decided to dedicate this whole article to can bed bugs lay eggs in your skin topic. Read it to find out the truth about parasites harmful to human beings.
Guide to Potential Dangers From Bed Bugs
Let’s admit that feeling bed bugs under skin is a nightmare for every sane person. However, you don’t need to worry about such a possibility. Although bed bugs prefer to feed on you and totally rely on your blood, they don’t crawl inside your skin.
They prefer to use you only as a source of food. At every stage of their life cycle, they are separated from the human body.
Truth and Myths about Bed Bugs
I am not surprised to hear all these questions like can bed bugs get under your skin. They look creepy, they suck your blood. So, why not? Basically, they would die if they try.
This is not how their bodies work. While they can’t exist for too long without humans, they prefer to interact with people only to suck the blood.
This is why they can’t lay eggs inside of you as well. Instead, you may find their eggs near your pillow, on your mattress, on the armchair. They can be really creative, making homes inside the furniture.
Can Bed Bugs Get Under the Skin?
Bed bugs are similar to vampires that live only if there is blood. The most attached to the blood are larvae that will not survive without it. If there is no human being nearby, they can drink the blood of animals.
To do this, they pierce the skin and suck the blood. Bed bugs contain anesthetic in their body, which they inject so their victim does not feel anything. There is also an anticoagulant so the blood is fresh and flows to them easily. Once they are fed, they crawl back to their hiding spot.
While it all sounds terrible, the truth is bed bugs are small and can create only small holes to drink the blood. They are hard to notice. Bed bugs can’t use such holes to crawl under the skin.
They can’t even bite through your clothes, so they definitely can’t bite through the skin hole big enough to get into. Even if they could, they wouldn’t do it mainly because our bodies are not the safe space for their eggs.
The eggs simply will be crushed or fall down. This is why bed bugs prefer to lay their eggs around the house.
Where do they lay eggs?
If you still imagine bed bugs burrow into your skin just to lay eggs, the good news is that there are more attractive places for them to hide their children.
You can search for them by yourself. Once you find the nest, you can spray it with insecticide. Here are the required conditions for the hiding place:
- It must be a place near a human being. Once the nymph gets from the egg, it needs blood. The most popular place is in the bed. Check out for cracks or gaps between the mattress and the legs. You can also check the mattress itself;
- The location must be somehow covered by people’s eyes. Humans can’t disturb bed bugs babies. Bed bug females carefully pick the place to lay the eggs.
The most obvious spots you have to check:
- Furniture;
- Mattress;
- Bedding, including pillowcase, sheets;
- Cracks inside walls;
- Carpet;
- Cracks inside the wooden floor;
- Old toys with fur, like stuffed animals.
Can they lay eggs inside your ears?
The answer is no. It looks like bed bugs simply don’t want to mix the food and their bedroom. They don’t like to get attached to human bodies and prefer to place their children somewhere safer.
Even though your ear may be perfectly dark inside, it still does not attract them. While I can’t give you a 100 percent guarantee that bed bugs will never lay eggs in your ear, I still can offer you 99 percent instead. For example, there was a rare case when a person had a bed bug trapped inside the ear.
It lasted for a few days, and the case was so unique it was described in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. My advice here is to not try to catch the bug with your ears or nose. Sorry for this dad joke.
What do bed bug eggs look like?
Once we have found can bed bugs live in your skin, let’s find out what these eggs look like. I recommend you learn how to identify these eggs, but if you see any other eggs on the furniture, remove them as well. Here is what you need to know about these eggs:
- They are not easy to find. Adults place them in crevices and cracks, hide them inside the fabric, so you wouldn’t find them. They can hold them in weird shapes, including laying them upside down, to hide them. Female species glue them to the hiding spot with a specific substance, so you wouldn’t shake it off;
- These eggs are incredibly small. They are 0.04 inches on average. If you can’t imagine the size, search for the 1 cent. Now measure the size of Lincoln’s nose. The egg is even smaller. Still, they are gathered in the pack of 3-5 eggs, which you may notice;
- Eggs are colorless. Unlike dark brown adults, eggs are pale and can easily stay unseen until the nymphs come out. Adults pick the hiding place specifically to make the eggs unnoticeable.
- You still can see the eggs if you know what you are looking for. Use flashlights to see them. Check out specific places for such “nests”.
What insects lay eggs under human skin?
Have you already relaxed? Well, don’t! You still have to stay focused. There are other insects that can actually lay eggs under your skin. While it does not happen so often, you need to check your house for them. There are two types of insects you have to be worried about:
- Scabies mites. They are parasites from the arachnids’ family. Still, the relation to spiders is very distant. They not only live under the skin, but they also lay their eggs there. You will not mistake scabies mites for bed bugs since they look different. They leave bites that look like pimples and make tracks under the skin. Bed bugs make larger bites and are rare. Scabies are usually unseen for the naked eye;
- Lice and Fleas. These two still don’t lay the eggs under the skin. Instead, they live on the skin. Usually, they prefer your hair. Fleas are more attracted to cats and dogs but can survive on humans too. Both parasites feed on your blood but still don’t have much in common with bed bugs. They are smaller than bed bugs as well.
FAQ
Read the most frequently asked questions about bed bugs. My answers will help you to understand more about these creatures. If you have more to add, you can do it in the comments below.
Can bed bugs hide in your hair?
If you start itching, you may look for lice on your head. Bed bugs do not like to live in the hair. They try to avoid living on any surfaces of the human body. Instead, they can easily settle down on your pillow. If you woke up feeling the bug crawling on your head, it might be because the insect did not make it to the hiding spot.
What bugs lay eggs in your skin?
As I have told you before, there is only one bug that lays eggs under your skin. It is scabies mites. This nasty creature is a distant relative to spiders and prefers to live under the skin. Yet, it is so small, you will not see mites without the microscope.
Can bed bug eggs stick to your skin?
While they are using specific natural glue their bodies can provide, they can’t glue the eggs to your skin. Your skin is too smooth for it. Apart from that, bed bugs prefer not to hide their eggs on the human body.
Bed Bugs Nightmare
I hope my words clarified the situation, at least partly. Don’t worry about your skin. Instead, I offer you to get rid of bed bugs since they will continue to drink your blood.
If you notice a bed bug in your house, you have to take measures immediately. These pests lay up to 4-5 eggs per day and can survive without food for a long time. I recommend cleaning your house and using insecticide to kill them.
If you have more recommendations, express them in the comments below. Have you ever had bed bugs in your room? How did you get rid of them?
Also read:
References
- Head Lice (UC San Diego)
  https://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/resources/health-topics/lice/index.html
- Scabies (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
  https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/index.html#:~:text=Human%20scabies%20is%20caused%20by,a%20pimple-like%20skin%20rash.
- Otitis from the Common Bedbug (Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology)
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234020176_Otitis_from_the_Common_Bedbug
2022-04-26
Dead Bed Bugs: What to Do If You Found One?
If you have found dead bed bugs in your room, don’t worry! There may be several simple explanations for this. The first one is that the treatment went well, the second is that you have to start treatment immediately.
You have to check the dead bug and find the source of its appearance. Moreover, we will develop a working strategy that’ll help you to get rid of these pests for good.
No matter what, believe me, it is better to find the dead bed bug than the one that is alive. It means that this insect was killed by something, now you have to turn into a detective and solve the mystery of its death.
Dead Bed Bugs in Your House: Detailed Guide
If you have found dead bed bugs in your apartment, it means that they either were in your house or still are. No matter what, you need to keep looking for them.
Search for the places they came from and prevent further infestation. If you notice live creatures, use specific bed bug sprays. Once they are killed, you have to clean the house.
Everything You Need to Know About Dead Insects
Once you find an insect in your room, you have to carefully inspect its body. Is it one of dead baby bed bugs or an adult? Is it a bed bug or an insect that looks similar?
The first step is to find out whether this is the bed bug. The second thing you have to do is to understand where this creature came from and the last step is to find the cause of death.
What do dead bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs do not really look like many other insects and can rarely be mistaken for anything else. Their bodies are flat, wingless, and light-brown.
Once they drink blood, their color reddens. The size of the adult body is somewhere close to 1/4 – 3/8 inches long. Female bugs have round abdomen, while males have pointed.
As for the nymphs or bed bug babies, they are much smaller. They can grow up to 1 inch before they turn into adults. They constantly need blood to turn into adults. Once they feed’ their normally colorless bodies become dark.
Don’t mistake the bed bug for the roach. While both of them have brown bodies, they are different. Roaches are faster with longer antennae. They have longer bodies as well.
What does it mean if you found a dead bed bug?
It still matters whether you found a dried out dead bed bug or just a “fresh” corpse. You have to make sure that dead bed bug does not play “dead.” If you have not sprayed the territory against bugs before you found it, there may be two explanations:
- The bed bug was a loner who accidentally crawled into your apartment;
- The bed bug was a part of the big happy community, and there are more of them somewhere nearby.
Since you can’t ask about the bed bug itself, I suggest thinking about a worthy scenario and being ready for it. My recommendation is to set a trap and make sure that there are no bugs in your home.
You have to act immediately because bed bugs are quick to spread around the house. They can crawl into your bed, on your clothes, and in the cracks inside the walls. Bed bugs can even survive in closed spaces for several weeks. Yet, don’t worry, you can still get rid of them.
If you have found dead bed bugs after treatment, it means that the process was successful. You have to clean your room and gather all the bodies. After that, you can set traps again to make sure that no one is left.
What to do when you find dead bed bugs?
Once you found one creature, you have to find out whether there are others. Even one small bed bug may be a big deal since they don’t usually travel alone.
You can also pay attention to whether this is a female creature with a round belly since female bed bugs usually mean babies are somewhere near.
The female bed bug can produce up to 250 eggs during the lifespan. Despite the fact that these creatures live from 4 to 6 months, they have plenty of time to produce more children. Don’t underestimate your enemy. Only when you see dead bed bug shells, you can partly relax. Your steps:
- Inspect the territory. I recommend starting with your bed, mainly because these insects feel the most comfortable there. Search for small blood stains or shells. Check out bedding, clothing, any fabric, furniture, carpet, and even cracks in the walls, floor, and ceiling;
- Look for signs. You may not notice a live creature since it moves fast. Yet, you can notice stains and old shells. Bed bugs also leave feces. They are simple to find on fabric, as they look like tiny black spots. Use flashlights to find them. If you have sharp eyes, you may even notice small eggs. Although they are small, you will easily notice several of them together;
- Use the trap. You may put the small container under each leg of your bed. Make sure that the container has walls. Once bed bugs are there, they will not be able to get out. Another option is to use double-sided tape on the floor, near the bed, near the carpet, and the door. If you have bed bugs they will be stuck there trying to crawl to their destination.
Tips to prevent bed bug infestation
There is a helpful guide on EPA that teaches you how to prevent bed bug infestation. I will provide you with my own recommendations. They are simple to follow:
- You have to keep your apartment clean. Vacuum cleaning is the procedure you have to repeat at least two times per week. When you do laundry of your bedding, it has to be on high temperatures;
- Wash your carpet with a specific shampoo at least once a month;
- Check out your apartment for bugs once in a while;
- Fix the cracks where bed bugs can hide;
- If you travel somewhere, don’t forget to check your clothes carefully after coming back;
- Always change bedding after your guests.
If you have bed bugs already, don’t panic. You need to act quickly. Remove everything you can from the room, and make sure there are no bed bugs. Put all your clothes, bedding, and fabrics in the laundry.
Spray the entire room with diatomaceous earth or use silica gel. Both remedies will kill bugs by drying them out. Use tea tree oil everywhere, since it also kills bed bugs.
Once it is done, wait for a day and use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dead bodies. You have to use a vacuum cleaner with bags since some bed bugs can survive and hide in the cleaner for months. Don’t forget to wash it after you finish bed bug treatment.
FAQ
Here is the list of most popular questions from users on the Internet. I will provide you with my own answers. I hope it will help you to fight bed bugs for good.
Is it good to find dead bed bugs?
To find a dead bed bug is always better than being alive. It means that something killed it. However, it is better not to find bed bugs at all. Yet, if you have found it, you need to search for other insects in the room.
Search for the possible place of appearance. Make sure there are no other bed bugs. You can spray the room and do laundry in advance. This is how you make sure that bed bugs are dead.
Are dead bed bugs flat?
No, they are not necessarily flat. Of course, if they were dried up by some insecticide, they would be flat. However, you can understand that the bed bug is dead by other symptoms.
For example, a bed bug is lying on its back and does not move. You can watch the creature for some time to make sure it is dead. If the bug is only dying, it will try to move.
You can kill it then. Usually, they are bodies curled up since the muscles contracted before they died. After some time, the body gets wrinkled. The legs can fall off.
Are dead bed bugs black?
No, this is not necessarily true. If the bed bug was black before it died, the color may slightly lighten. It does not get black. You can find brown bed bugs or light-colored insects.
Don’t forget that there also may be larvae, which are colorless. The color changes based on the amount of blood insects drank before death.
Recommendations for Dead Bed Bugs Situation
No matter whether you accidentally found a dead bed bug or noticed it after you have fought an infestation, dead bed bugs are better than alive ones.
It is important to search for other insects nearby since they usually travel in groups. If you have not found any creature after all the searches, you can relax.
If you have found it, you need to act immediately, getting rid of them until they double their numbers. Follow my recommendations for that. If you have more to add, you can do it in the comments. Have you ever found bed bugs? Share your thoughts with us.
Also read:
References
- How Do I Know If A Bed Bug Treatment Has Been Successful? (Amelia Shindelar and Dr. Stephen Kells)
  https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/sites/bedbugs.umn.edu/files/y2014m06d30_how_do_i_know_if_a_bed_bug_treatment_has_been_succesful.pdf
- Top Ten Tips to Prevent or Control Bed Bugs (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
  https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/top-ten-tips-prevent-or-control-bed-bugs
- Bed Bugs Bed Bugs (Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture)
  https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef636
2022-04-26

What Temperature Kills Bed Bugs: Heat or Freeze?

Are you shocked to have found a new cohabitant sharing the bed with you? Having bed bugs invasion in your bedroom is any homeowner’s worst nightmare. It is disgusting, unhealthy, and tedious to get rid of.

Luckily, there is a way to fix the problem. Here are the most efficient elimination methods used by professional eradicators. Learn about what temperature kills bed bugs and which pros and cons come with each treatment option.

I hope the following recommendations from the best pest control experts will let you stop the nasty intruders in their tracks and make sure they never come back.

At What Temperature Do Bed Bugs Die & How to Prevent Reinfestation?

If you are a homeowner seeking to eliminate the annoying bed bug problem, the treatments described in this post will help you do that most effectively. Here, I will explain in detail what temperature kills bed bugs instantly and why killing bed bugs with cold is not always the best idea.

Can high or low temperature kill bed bugs?

Bed bugs require a comfortable air temperature of 77-86 °F (23-30 °С) for survival and reproduction. They can endure a narrow temperature range, and if the temperature drops too low or goes up too high, these insects die. Still, bed bugs live and remain active at 50 °F (10 °C), but if it drops below -31 °F (-35 °C), it kills them.

First, these bugs become numb, and their larvae stop hatching. Long-term exposure to cold temperatures leads to their death. The same happens if the temperature rises above 45 °C. The higher the temperature, the faster they die.

Thus, the answer to both questions of “does heat kill bed bugs?” and “does cold kill bed bugs?” is yes, but there is a nuance. Although bed bugs are sensitive to heat and cold, switching off heaters in winter or leaving infested things to sit outside on a hot summer day is not going to work. One way to get rid of them is to reach temperatures that kill bed bugs, which are usually much above or below what is naturally possible.

When deciding between freezing and overheating smaller items infested with bed bugs like linens or clothes, homeowners can be guided by what is more comfortable and achievable for them. However, when in need of a DIY whole-home treatment solution, heating seems like a more realistic option.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Freeze Bed Bugs Treatments

Freezing bed bugs and their eggs to death with low temperatures is possible, even though it is a less versatile and efficient choice for homeowners.

Besides, it comes with significant limitations that make its use by non-professional exterminators complicated. The most common DIY way to kill bed bugs with cold is to place your sofas and other contaminated items outside during severe frosts.

However, doing so might not bring the results you are hoping for as bed bugs tend to spread around the house and might go hiding in other pieces of your furniture or floor cracks.

So, even if you manage to rid your cozy couch of the annoying pests, there are likely to be more of them waiting for an opportunity to return and re-colonize the beloved item.

It is more of a prevention than a treatment method. It works best if used on separate pieces of furniture like old sofas or mattresses that have been in use. Thus, you can leave your second-hand items outside at sub-zero temperatures for a few days to make sure that no pests will enter the house with them.

When applying professional rapid freezing technology (Cryonite freezing) to destroy bed bugs and their eggs, carbon monoxide is converted into cold, dry ice snow that is then sprayed around and freezes the pests to death upon contact. For that procedure, the use of specialized equipment is necessary.

Pros:	Cons:
using Cryonite is fast, effective, non-chemical, and non-toxic bed bugs are eradicated upon direct contact cryonite treatments can be applied in sensitive environments, including schools, care facilities, and hospitals	only professional exterminators using specialized equipment can apply the Cryonite freezing method; there is no residual effect to protect treated areas against reinfestation; it is an expensive and non-lasting way to kill bed bugs around the house.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Heat Bed Bugs Treatments

Anti-bed bug heat treatment is a viable non-chemical option used by specialists and individual homeowners. Bed bugs die when subjected to temperatures of 122 °F (50 °C) and above.

The higher the temperature, the less time the eradication procedure takes. Depending on how heavy and widespread the infestation is, the procedure may necessitate the use of specialized equipment such as jet heaters, blowers, and sensors that control the temperature in the room. When performed correctly, this method should make you free of bed bugs on the same day.

The experience of people who managed to eradicate bed bugs in this way shows that the room needs to be warmed up to 122-140 °F (50-60 °C) and maintained at this temperature for at least half an hour, better yet a full hour.

The procedure is safe for humans but deadly for pests. Prolonged heating of the room ensures that hot air gets into all bed bug nests, whether they are hiding in the sofa, under the baseboard, or in other crevices of your house.

Pros:

Cons:

the heat treatment method works relatively quickly and does not need to be repeated if done correctly the first time;
heat treatment helps eliminate bed bugs at all stages of their life cycle;
it is a suitable solution for small, medium, or widespread bed bug infestations;
the method does not require any pretreatment of smaller contaminated items;
it is a non-toxic procedure, safe for kids, pets, and most houseplants.

since the purchase of specialized equipment might be required to perform the procedure, bed bug heat treatment can be more expensive than other options;
heat treatment options do not offer long-lasting protection of your home against reinfestation;
the method works best when used to treat smaller spaces with non-concrete walls and low ceilings;
without due preparation, certain heat-sensitive items might end up ruined.

Tips for eliminating a bed bug problem in your bedroom

Here are a few additional steps that will help you remove a bed bug problem quickly and effectively:

Wash linens, covers, drapery, and clothes using the hottest temperature and the highest spin setting the machine has.
Before you start vacuuming, clean the seams of the mattress with a firm brush.
De-clutter the area around your bed and vacuum this space frequently. Once you have finished vacuuming, place the contents of the cleaner bag into a plastic box and dispose of it by throwing it in the garbage can outside your house.
Cover your mattress and box springs with a tightly woven, zippered anti-bed bug mattress encasement. Keep it that way for at least a year.

FAQ: Choosing the Right Bed Bug Treatment Option

When it comes to finding the perfect solution to your bed bug problem, you are likely to have many questions, especially if you plan to eradicate the infestation without seeking professional assistance.

I have compiled a list of brief answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, leave a comment below!

Do bed bugs die in the dryer?

The temperature used in the dryer is sufficient to destroy bed bugs and their eggs. Tumble-drying your washed clothes/linens for up to 30 minutes on a high spin setting will make the whole process more effective.

What temperature of steam kills bed bugs?

Exposing bed bugs and their eggs to temperatures of 122°F (50°C) is enough to destroy them within a few minutes. Given that steam forms at 212°F (100 °C), this temperature is guaranteed to kill most insects, including bed bugs, on the spot.

How long does it take bed bugs to starve?

Depending on the ambient temperature, humidity, and insect age, bed bugs can last from 20 to 400 days without feeding. Therefore, starving them to death as you would do with lice is not practicable. You will succeed more in killing bed bugs with heat through either hot washing and drying or steaming.

Are bed bugs worse in summer or winter?

June through October is when bed bugs are usually the most active. Increased heat and excessive humidity make bed bugs hungrier, more fertile, and aggressive.

What are the main signs of a bed bug infestation?

The main signs indicating a bed bug infestation are as follows:

you find blood staining your sheets and pillowcases;
you have bite marks that are itchy and red on your skin;
you smell a strong and musty odor in your bedroom even after airing the room.

Are chemicals more efficient against bed bugs than heat/cold treatments?

Using chemical agents is an effective and fast-working pest eradication method; however, it does have a few crucial downsides.

First, you will need to apply a combination of chemicals – contact insecticides, residual chemicals with a delayed effect, and specialized dust that offers protection against pests, hiding in cracks and gaps around the house.

It is a messy and time-taking process. Besides, most bed bug chemicals are toxic and have to be used cautiously in households with kids and pets.

What temperatures can bed bugs survive?

If you intend to eliminate a bed bug infestation on your own, one of the first questions to ask yourself is: “what temperatures can bed bugs survive?” Experts say that any temperature of over 45°C is lethal for bed bugs.

Their eggs, however, have more resistance to survive the heat. To get rid of both adult bugs and eggs, make sure to expose infested clothing and linens to higher heat for a longer time.

Killing Bed Bugs Is Hard Without Professionals

Killing bed bugs that have infested your perfect home is no walk in the park. This lengthy and effort-consuming process requires a lot of focus and dedication.

Luckily, there is now no shortage of efficient and approved pest eradication methods, the most trusted and widespread being heat and steam treatment options. However, if you feel it is a fight you cannot win on your own, professional exterminators in your area will happily render their services.

Have you ever had a bed bug problem? What helped you get rid of the invaders? Speak up in the comments and share this post with others!

Also read:

References

Insecticides (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
https://www.epa.gov/caddis-vol2/insecticides#:~:text=Insecticides%20are%20chemicals%20used%20to,structure%20and%20mode%20of%20action.
Effects of Temperature and Humidity on the Survival and Water Loss of Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) (Journal of Medical Entomology)
https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/47/6/987/992893?login=false

2022-04-26

Can Bed Bugs Live in Your Hair?
Hearing about bed bugs or similar insects makes the majority of people extremely uncomfortable and squeamish. Imagining anything crawling on your body is far from pleasant, so a lot of people are worried, and they naturally wonder — can bed bugs live in your hair?
Can they stay in your clothes for a long time? Here you will find the answers to these questions.
What You Should Know About Bed Bugs Infestations
Insignificant infestations of bed bugs in homes are quite common, and they are often difficult to find. You might get an occasional bite from a bed bug and not even realize what has happened, especially if you don’t get any reaction.
Luckily, bed bugs are not as harmful as many people think, as they are not carriers of infections. However, do bed bugs stay in your hair? This is the question that makes a lot of people wonder.
How can bed bugs get on your head?
If you are afraid of finding bed bug eggs in the hair, you might be happy to hear that this won’t happen. Bed bugs can bite any part of the human body, but they don’t live in the hair the same way that lice do.
The reason is that the bodies and legs of bed bugs are anatomically not suited for crawling through the hair on the bodies of humans and animals.
Another reason is that bed bugs prefer living in environments that are cooler than the human body. Bed bugs can bite any part of the exposed skin, but they will then retreat to the environment where they can survive.
It’s unlikely that bed bugs will even bite the skin of the scalp, as they will find it difficult to get there through the hair. It is a lot more common to get a bite on the neck, legs, hands, or face.
Not a lot of people know, but bed bugs don’t spread diseases, which is why their bites don’t require any special treatment. At the same time, it is recommended to restrain from scratching their bites because there will be an increased risk of contracting a secondary infection.
If you experience intense itching, the best solution is to take an antihistamine tablet and then apply some antiseptic cream to the affected area.
Symptoms of bed bugs in hair
Identifying bed bug bites without seeing the actual insect can be quite difficult as they are frequently mistaken for those left by others. The first thing to know about bed bug bites is that they usually leave several red bite marks in a row.
Depending on a person’s individual reaction, there can be itching and irritation. If a person doesn’t have hair, it is possible for them to get bed bug bites on the head.
In addition to seeing symptoms on the skin, a good way to determine whether your bite marks have been caused by bed bugs is by taking a careful look at your environment. For instance:
- If you haven’t seen live bed bugs in your house but suspect that you might have an infestation, there are other things you can notice. When you change bedding in your home, you should carefully look for small red or brown stains that come from crushed bugs. This could be one of the main signs that you have an infestation in your house.
- If you see tiny eggshells or eggs when cleaning the house or changing the bedding, it is possible that they come from bed bugs. Also, bed bugs shed their skins when they grow, and they can also be found if there is an infestation in your home.
- There can also be small dark excrement marks left on the fabric by bed bugs. Keep in mind that they are no larger than marker spots, so they can be difficult to notice.
It would be a good idea to examine all corners of your house if you were away for some time. You should pay special attention to dark and cool places in your home where bed bugs are especially likely to hide.
Do bed bugs stay on your body?
Where do bed bugs hide on your body and hair? The answer is simple — they don’t hide on your body as they tend to bite and leave. Fortunately for people, the human body is a completely uninhabitable place for bed bugs.
During one bite, bed bugs feed for about 3-7 minutes, and, if a person sleeps at that moment, they might feel only slight itching or even nothing at all. After that, bed bugs will hide for several weeks and lay eggs somewhere in the house.
Hotter temperatures negatively affect bed bugs, so you won’t find them hiding near stoves or other well-heated places. At the same time, they can survive and live in temperatures that reach as low as 46°F.
For this reason, if you want to get rid of bed bugs in your place, one of the methods is using heat. One thing to note is that there are different types of bed bugs, and tropical ones can be eliminated only in temperatures higher than 113°F.
The places where you can find bed bugs vary depending on your house. The most common places for bed bug infestation include mattresses, seams, bed frame cracks, and spots close to piping. In the case of heavier infestations, it is possible to find bed bugs in:
- curtains;
- different electrical appliances;
- cushions;
- corners between the walls and ceiling;
- wall decorations and hangings;
- loosely attached wallpaper.
Bed bugs don’t require a lot of space, which is why they can be found anywhere. If you want to get rid of them, it’s important to look through all the nooks and crannies in the house, as they hide easily.
Traveling: can bed bugs get in your hair or on your body?
Bed bugs can travel with people from one place to another, but not in a way that many people imagine. If you imagine that they stay on the body while a person travels, this is not the case.
The most common way these insects can get from one place to another is in the clothes that you have in your bag. If you realized that you stayed or slept somewhere where you could potentially get bed bugs on your clothes or belongings, you should take the following measures:
1. Wash all your clothes, including your bag, in hot water.
2. If you can, dry your clothes on the highest setting or iron them afterward.
3. Carefully look through all your belongings for any signs of bed bugs (live insects, excrements, marks on clothes, etc.).
4. If you have a lot of crevices in your suitcase, and you cannot wash it properly, it is a good idea to get a new one.
5. If possible, use a flashlight or even a magnifying glass to look for insects in your belongings.
High temperatures effectively kill bed bugs, so by using this method, you don’t even need to apply special pesticides. When you are on the go, you can get rid of smaller infestations in your belongings without a lot of trouble.
To prevent getting bed bugs on your belongings, you should avoid placing your suitcase directly on the floor or bed. If you suspect that there could be insects in the wardrobe, try not to unpack your clothes at all. It is a good idea to hang your bag on the rack or stand so that there is some distance between your bag and the walls.
How to get rid of bed bugs in your house?
If you suspect that there might be a bed bug infestation in your house, there are several things you can do. Before contacting pest control specialists or purchasing pesticides to use on your own, you can try the following steps:
1. Thoroughly clean your house and eliminate any clutter that you might have.
2. Make sure that you vacuum floors, molding, furniture, bed, and around windows every day in the area where you suspect an infestation. Once you finish vacuuming for a day, you should empty the vacuum bag outside and get rid of its contents.
3. Wash your bedding and blankets and then place them in the dryer on the highest setting for 30 minutes or more.
In the case of serious infestation, the mentioned methods can be too time-consuming and not effective enough. If this is the case, you will likely have to resort to the use of pesticides.
When it comes to using such products, the best strategy is to contact a professional pest control team who can get rid of bed bugs not only quickly but also safely.
There are some pesticides that can be purchased by homeowners, but it’s important to make sure that you follow the safety rules. Only products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States can be used to eliminate bed bugs.
Regardless of the selected pesticide, you should avoid applying it to your body. There are also special outdoor pesticides that shouldn’t be used indoors under any circumstances.
If you decide to contact a pest control company, you should make sure that they are properly registered, and their specialists have all the corresponding licenses that enable them to work with pesticides.
FAQ About Bed Bugs
There are many myths and misconceptions that surround the behavior of bed bugs. Below, I would like to answer the most frequent questions that people have when dealing with these pests.
Can bed bugs live in the hair for a long time?
No. Bed bugs are different from fleas and lice, and they don’t live in fur and hair.
Can bed bugs live in your pillow?
Bed bugs can live in bedding and pillows, but mostly when a bed has been left for some time.
Do bed bugs wash off in the shower?
Yes. If you have a live bed bug on you, it’s easy to wash it off in the shower. Since they don’t live in the hair, like fleas and lice, they can be quickly removed from the exposed skin.
Can you feel bed bugs crawling on your skin?
Depending on the person, some people can notice crawling and itching while others might not. As bed bugs often feed during the night, a lot of people don’t feel anything and find bite marks only afterward.
Eliminate Bed Bugs in a Few Steps
If you were worried about whether tiny bed bugs in the hair can live there, you can be sure that these insects don’t prefer to live on human bodies. At the same time, bed bugs can bite any body part they can get to, so you should eliminate any infestations you might have.
It is recommended to deep clean your house and get to any hard-to-reach places where bed bugs can live. There exist products that can be purchased by homeowners, and there are more powerful solutions that are used by professionals in the case of heavier infestations.
Have you ever had to deal with a bed bug infestation? Were you able to handle this issue on your own, or did you employ professionals to help you out? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
Also read:
References
- Bed Bugs – What They Are and How to Control Them (Department of Health)
  https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/pests/bedbugs.htm
- How to Find Bed Bugs (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
  https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- Bed Bugs FAQs (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
  https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html
2022-04-26
Baby Bed Bugs: What You Need to Know
Unfortunately, sometimes you can find different insects in your house, and once that happens, it becomes a whole lot to deal with. Baby bed bugs are not welcomed guests on our sleeping schedules, and they cause very unpleasant problems. But don’t worry, you can explore ways to spot them and get rid of them further.
Baby bed bugs are the young stages of insects of the same name. They might be difficult to find and deal with, but there are certain methods that will help you while on your way to solving the matter. In this post, I will reveal the ways to identify and eliminate these pests.
What do baby bed bugs look like?
The problem with dealing with bed bugs appears in the fact that those insects are really small. Common bed bugs barely reach 4 mm in length, but they can be easily spotted by their color. Adult specimens have dark brown coloring, so you can definitely notice one crawling on your bed.
They have a defined round body, six legs, and two antennae they feel their surroundings with. Females and males look practically the same; only sometimes the female can grow bigger if it carries a lot of eggs. You won’t find them one by one but probably grouped in dark corners.
When it comes to baby bed bugs, things become more difficult. First of all, they are smaller than the adults, making them even less visible. Moreover, they don’t acquire a definite coloring until they reach the final form of metamorphosis.
They can be yellowish or white, so if you have light bedsheets, it might add more problems while you search for them. You can look up some baby bed bug pictures to understand how to spot them further.
You probably won’t find any bed bug eggs on your own as they can be less than 1 mm in length, which makes them unrecognizable among a lot of things.
Plus, female bed bugs lay their eggs in small spaces, so it makes them harder to locate. From eggs come nymphs that will eat and grow in size until they become adults. Bed bugs don’t go through complete metamorphosis because just born baby bed bugs look the same as mature organisms.
How to find baby bed bugs
Depending on what stage of bed bugs you are looking for, you might need to explore different spaces. Of course, they will be located in your sleeping or living room, but you can find them in some specific places. Regular bed bugs tend to hide in dark corners during the day, where it is hard to spot them.
They are really small, so they try to avoid encountering big enemies like humans, coming out only at night to invade your personal space. If you turn a flashlight on your phone in the bed, you might see dark spots scurrying around on the place you are lying, and that can be bed bugs.
These insects hide in small spaces; they can also get in your mattress, and in that case, you might need to get rid of it because it is hard to exterminate them from the hard foam of the thing.
In some cases, you can find baby bed bugs between your sheets or on the pillow, rarely on the mattress, because they try to get closer to their victim.
At night, you can try and see small whitish insects crawling in your bed, and it won’t probably be the best scene you would like to observe in the place where you commonly sleep. If you look at bed bug baby images, you can compare them to the ones you’ve seen and make your own conclusions.
Female bed bugs lay their eggs in the corners of the room or the drawers you usually keep your clothes and sheets in. Baby bed bugs need to get on the person for them to start feeding and developing.
You can also spot dead baby bed bugs on your sleeping place; they look like dry sesame seeds, and yes, that does sound horrible. Another way to find bed bugs in your space is by looking for the dark excrement they leave behind. You can find such trails near your headboard or around the bed.
Details on bed bug life cycle
Bed bugs have a complicated life cycle that includes eggs, five stages of nymphs, and adulthood. The average female can lay about 250 eggs in just one day, so these species are considered highly invasive.
Once they get into your house, it is better to immediately deal with the problem. The eggs hatch in 6-10 days, and from there starts their journey to become a fertile organism.
Nymphs need to start eating blood from their first day because it is their main source of energy. That’s why they crawl out at night and feed on humans to get bigger.
Regular feeding can take up to 6 minutes on average, and a bug can grow 1.5 times in size. At first, nymphs have yellowish, almost transparent coloring, but once they get their first drop of blood, they begin to acquire the brownish color of an adult organism. An unfed bed bug nymph cannot grow and start to reproduce, so their development stops until they find a source of food.
The nymph undergoes five stages of metamorphosis when they mold and acquire a more adult-like look. The lifespan of a common bed bug is about 6 to 12 months. Be careful, as adult bugs can go about a year without feeding, so it is good to take all of the precautions when moving to a new place.
Bed bugs can survive a lot of conditions, and if you travel, it is a good idea to always have your luggage closed, so they don’t get among your clothes. They will settle there for the time, waiting for you to put them on, so they can reproduce and feed on your blood while you are at home.
They can travel with you back to the house and then invade your personal spaces like couches and beds. Bed bugs mate at a high rate, and a population can grow in size in several weeks, and then it will be really hard to get rid of it.
Which dangers do bed bug nymphs bear?
Bed bugs feed on blood at all stages, so if you have them, you will notice the apparent signs of their staying in your house. Baby bed bugs bite the parts of the skin that are hard to reach and see in the mirror, such as necks, spines, skin folds on arms, and waist.
Sometimes, you might notice them near your ears or even your face. Bed bug bites are common on shoulders too. These insects feed at night, so you won’t notice them biting while you sleep, but if the infestation is too big, you might wake up accidentally.
The visible symptoms of baby beg bugs in your place are red marks with a darker spot in the center. It appears after the bug has bitten you and sucked some blood out.
The bites are usually extremely itchy, but specialists warn you not to scratch them down too much because that might leave scars. The itching appears because bed bugs have poison that causes a mild allergic reaction in your body, much like common mosquitos.
Usually, bed bug bites appear on children as, with their curiosity and desire to explore, they tend to bring different bugs into the house. You should remember that their bites can cause severe allergies if your children are prone to them.
The symptoms might include large swelling and trouble breathing. It is essential to immediately contact your family doctor if you notice uncommon reactions to the bug bites.
Bed bugs can be mistaken for other organisms such as ticks, booklice, fleas, and lice. It is very important to analyze all of the symptoms you have from their bites. It is better to always pay attention to your living environment so that you don’t have to deal with any pests in your house. Bed bugs are hard to exterminate, and the bites you might encounter are pretty annoying.
How to get rid of baby bed bugs
Usually, bed bugs are carried inside your living place if you have been staying in a dirty hotel, where they don’t excel the sanitary rules of cleaning the sleeping space.
So your first step in getting rid of these bugs is to always check your surroundings if you are traveling somewhere. Keep your clothes in the luggage; you don’t need to transfer them to the drawers because the cleaners might not reach all of the spaces where these parasites live.
If you are moving to a place where no one lived for a long time, you should not worry about getting infested with bed bugs, as they don’t survive for more than half a year without food. However, it is better to follow all precautions and clean the space beforehand, just in case so that you don’t need to deal with bed bugs later.
When such a problem occurs, and you find the adult forms of the species in your bed, then they might have already laid eggs somewhere in your room.
Specialists recommend immediately contacting your local pest control because dealing with bed bugs on your own can be harmful. Usually, to exterminate the colony, they use strong pesticides that can be dangerous to humans as they have damaging fumes.
You can use Diatomaceous Earth while you deal with bed bugs. It is a common pesticide with which you can decontaminate the clothes you think might be infested with insects. You should leave them with two cups of the mixture for about 72 hours in a hot place to make sure that all of the bugs are dead.
After that, you need to thoroughly wash the clothes so that the pesticide doesn’t come in contact with your skin because it can cause some severe allergic reactions. Please, remember that any DIY methods of killing insects can be dangerous, and your best call would be to contact pest control.
Another way of getting rid of bed bugs is by vacuuming and heat cleaning the infested place. Insects cannot survive in high temperatures, so if you have a steam generator, this thing would be really helpful while having the general cleaning in a new place. First of all, you need to check all beds and couches, as people spend most of their time sitting or sleeping on such furniture.
Take your time to get rid of all of the dust in the drawers or just replace them with new ones so that you completely eliminate the chance of any bed bugs hiding in there.
FAQ About Baby Bed Bugs
There are a number of things that everyone who has a bed bug infestation should know. Below, I would like to answer some of the most popular questions that people ask me when dealing with bed bugs.
Where do baby bed bugs hide?
They hide in the folds of your sheets, under the pillows, and sometimes, in the mattress.
How fast do bed bugs crawl?
Bed bugs are sleek creatures that can move four feet in just one minute.
What do nymph bed bug bites look like?
Bed bug bites appear on the skin in the form of itching red spots with a dark circle in the middle.
Are baby bed bugs easy to squish?
Yes, they are easy to kill, but eliminating them one by one won’t help you exterminate the whole colony.
Don’t Make Friends With Bed Bugs
All in all, it is helpful to know more about baby bed bugs, as they can be quite annoying neighbors. Pay attention to your luggage when you are traveling so that you don’t bring any unwanted guests into your house. It is better to prevent any encounters with these biting insects.
Have you ever dealt with bed bugs? What methods did you use? Please, share your opinion in the comments below.
Also read:
References
- ENTFACT-649 – MYSTERY BITES: Insect and Non-Insect Causes (by Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture)
  https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef649
- Physician Management of Anaphylaxis and Systemic Reactions (NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE EVANSTON)
  https://www.northwestern.edu/healthservice-evanston/medical-services/allergy-shots/physician-management-of-anaphylaxis-and-systemic-reactions/
- Bed Bugs Appearance and Life Cycle (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
  https://swap.stanford.edu/20151016075053/https://www2.epa.gov/bedbugs/bed-bugs-appearance-and-life-cycle
2022-04-26
How Do Carpenter Bee Traps Work: Theory & Practical Tips
Carpenter bees are one of the most common species in the United States due to their ability to survive in various weather conditions. This species builds nests in wood and often chooses wooden houses to settle in.
If you are the one suffering from carpenter bee invasion, I’ve got you covered. In this article, I focus on the “how do carpenter bee traps work?” issue, explain the peculiarities of their use, as well as how to protect your home from these nasty pests. Read on and educate yourself with my expert tips.
Guide on How to Trap Carpenter Bees
1. Place a Wood Bee Catcher on the Corners/Top of Your House.
2. Wait for Bees to Fly Into the Trap and Get Caught.
3. Check the Jar Regularly for Trapped Bees.
4. Remove Dead Insects and Release the Alive Species.
5. Cover Wooden Elements With Oil-Based Paint/Varnish for Prevention.
What Is a Wood Bee Trap?
Let’s start with the danger these insects pose so that you can understand why you need such a trap. Carpenter bees are considered almost harmless to humans because they sting very rarely and are not poisonous.
People often mistake them for bumblebees due to their similar size, but they have different coloring: females’ heads are entirely black and less hairy.
However, they can damage your house, spoil the facades, and ruin the entire construction. Carpenter bees gnaw tunnels in wood to lay their eggs, raise offspring, and spend winters there.
Damaged rafters, beams, and walls lose their sturdiness and might simply not withstand the load. You need a specialized trap to catch these insects and protect your house.
How Does a Bee Trap Work?
A wood bee trap is a small box made of softwood with holes in the lateral edges and a jar attached to the base. A bee perceives it as a potential home and flies into the hole.
Since the trap is empty inside and not suitable for laying eggs, the insect instinctively heads to the biggest source of light, the hole, to which the jar is attached. A carpenter bee gets trapped because it cannot fly straight up or crawl up smooth glass or plastic.
There is another type of trap with a simpler design, which is a plastic cylinder with an adhesive surface. Every insect that lands on it immediately gets caught.
If you are concerned that this trap can harm small birds, do not worry: a thin net around the sticky part will keep them away. None of these traps requires additional chemical baits.
Carpenter bees release a specific pheromone, which stands for the SOS signal. This scent works as a natural bait and attracts other bees.
Where to Place a Trap for Carpenter Bees?
You should place this trap on the corners of your house and on its top regardless of the construction type. You can roughly determine the number of traps you need based on the working radius of the trap (about 15 feet), and how many nests are located on the site.
Don’t forget to seal all the holes in the nest if your house is already damaged. If the nest is still accessible, the bees will not change their location wherever you place the trap.
Wood shavings and brownish fecal stains are the main signs that can guide you to the nest. Carpenter bees also make a distinct buzzing noise in the nest.
How to Avoid Carpenter Bees?
The only way to protect your wooden house from carpenter bees is to cover it with oil-based paint or varnish. Bees can harm not only wooden constructions but also fences, outdoor furniture, and many other items you can’t secure with paint, so I still advise you to pay attention to the signs I have described above.
FAQ About How a Bee Trap Works
Now that you are aware of the basic principle of work of such a trap, let’s move to more practical issues. Here are the most typical questions about using carpenter bee traps: when and where to hang them, when to expect the first result, and how to get rid of bees on the first try.
How long does it take for a carpenter bee trap to work?
The first bees usually find a trap in two or three days. In case you see no changes, and the trap remains empty, you should ensure that all the nest holes are tightly sealed or move the trap to another place.
What to do with carpenter bees after you trap them?
When the jar is full, there are two ways to get rid of carpenter bees. The first one is humane: you can leave these insects alive and release them further. Be careful since they can find their way back to the nest, so make sure you free them far enough from your site.
Wash the jar thoroughly as it can smell like an “SOS-pheromone.” If you want to catch other bees using such a bait, you should place already trapped insects in the freezer for 24 hours or immerse them in water for an hour, and then put them back in a trap.
When should you put out carpenter bee traps?
Carpenter bees are most active in the spring, when they mate, lay eggs, and build their nests. Given that, you need to think about such traps with the first thaw. Any time is suitable for placing the traps, but ensure that you thoroughly seal all the holes in the nest.
Secure Your House With Wood Bee Catcher
Although carpenter bees are not dangerous to humans, they can do much harm to houses. The best way to protect your property is to carefully paint the facades and roof of your house.
However, bees still can find loopholes and even settle inside your apartment. If you find a nest inside, use a wood boring bee trap. Its effectiveness is based on the insect’s behavior; it features a simple design and does not require any extra chemical components.
Have you found a carpenter bee nest on your site, or are you just researching ways to prevent the hazard? Please, leave your thoughts in the comments.
Also read:
References
- Carpenter Bees (Richard Houseman Urban Entomology State Specialist Division of Plant Sciences)
  https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7424
- Analysis of Honeybee Aggression (By Dylan Voeller and James Nieh) labs.biology.ucsd.edu/nieh/TeachingBee/honeybee_aggession.htm
- Carpenter Bees (by Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture)
  https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef611
- Carpenter Bees (Ohio State University Extension)
  https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-2074
- Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa spp.) (By Steve Buchman The Bee Works)
  https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/carpenter_bees.shtml
2022-04-26
How to Make a Carpenter Bee Trap: Making a Wood Bee Trap at Home
Some bees are very useful insects, and some of them, like carpenter bees, can bring about destruction to your home. They drill hundreds and hundreds of holes in the deck of your house, specifically burrowing into softer woods like cedar and pine and creating lots of damage.
It’s very important to remove them in time to prevent infestation, and so learning how to make a carpenter bee trap is the first thing you should do.
It’s easy and is proven effective against the bee’s infestation. Making a DIY carpenter bee trap is also a good project you might find enjoyable.
A guide to making a wood bee trap at home
To build a carpenter bee trap you need simple DIY tools like a drill or a circular/hand saw. All you need to do is put together a block of wood and drill some holes in it. At the bottom of a trap, you’ll attach a glass jar, that will be the source of light that will trap the bees.
Why are carpenter bees damaging wood?
Carpenter bees cause an incredible amount of damage to your house. They dig holes through various wooden structures and try to lay eggs there. While they do not eat wood, and only drill it to create space to lay their eggs.
They often find older holes and drill them further, and the damage this removal of wood causes the wooden structure to fail eventually.
So learning how to make a carpenter bee trap is going to be incredibly useful to prevent their infestation and avoid using chemical insecticides. Annoying as they are, these bees are not really dangerous and are important pollinators.
First, let’s look at what materials you’ll need to build a carpenter bee trap at home.
Materials that you will need to make carpenter bee traps
- 4х4 piece of lumber (untreated cedar or pine)
- circular saw
- drill
- hammer
- a regular mason jar with a lid
- small chain, wire or cable
- measuring tape
- ½ inch drill bit
- nails
- hook
- 6-inch wide plank of wood
- honey or sweet water
When preparing to make a homemade carpenter bee trap, it’s better to purchase all your materials in time, so that you’re not forced to interrupt your project because you need to make a trip to the hardware store.
Because you need saws and drills and other electrical instruments to build a carpenter bee trap, remember to use protective gear, like gloves, dust mask and safety goggles.
Your work surface ideally should be far away from the place where you’re planning to install your wood bee trap because you don’t want to agitate the bees.
You should also straight away add a drop of honey or sweet water to the mason jar to act as a lure. Also when your homemade carpenter bee trap will be ready for installation, wear long-sleeve clothing and long pants to protect your skin from potential stings.
Though carpenter bees are not aggressive, it’s better to avoid the risks altogether.
Step by Step Guide on How to Make a Carpenter Bee Trap
Step 1: Cut your wood
You need to cut your 4×4 piece of lumber into pieces around 5-8 inches in length, at least 4 inches thick. Measure it precisely with a measuring tape and make pencil marks to ensure you get an even result. If you have more wood left – use it to make another wood bee trap.
Step 2: Create a base hole
You need to make a tunnel through which carpenter bees will enter the wood bee trap. Choose your ½ inch drill bit, attach it to your power drill and drill all the way through. A hole should go through all the length of the wood.
Step 3: Make 3 side holes
The next thing you need to do is create 3 side holes at a 45-degree angle. Take the three long sides of the block and using the same ½ inch drill bit make 3 holes at a 45-degree angle.
This will make additional entry points for the beesa and will make it like a tunnel. The angle should be aimed upward, otherwise the sun will be able to shine through it.
Step 4: Make a roof
Take your 6-inch wide plank of wood and measure how much you need to make a roof for your wood bee trap. You should have about 1 inch overhang on each side.
Once you’ve cut it properly, place it atop of the block of wood, make sure the side holes are still aimed upward, and nail it to the block with a hammer.
Step 5: Make a hole in a mason jar lid
Place the metal lid over the hole on the bottom of your block and mark the center of the lid with a pencil. Use the same drill bit to make a hole in the jar lid that should be placed in the center.
Step 6: Attach the lid to the base
Take a hammer and nail the lid with the hole in the center to the base of your block. You should try to match the hole in the lid and the central hole of your block align and that the lid is nailed tight to the jar to prevent any bees slipping out of the trap.
Step 7: Screw the jar with honey
Pour a drop of honey or sweet water to the bottom of your jar and screw it onto the lid. Make sure you screw it on tight.
Step 8: Attach the hook
With a measuring tape find the center of your lid, to ensure that it hangs straight and mark it to attach an eye hook screw. If you want to use a larger hook you can drill a small hole to attach it.
Step 9: Hang the wood bee trap
You should try to choose the spot which is the closest to the infestation site. and carefully hang the trap there so that the side without a hole is against the house or a pole you attach the bee trap to. Make sure it’s secured firmly.
How does a homemade carpenter bee trap work and how to use it correctly?
A boring bee trap can be incredibly effective against bees. When used correctly, what it does is act like a nest where carpenter bees burrow into an existing hole and encourages them to get into pre-made tunnels and investigate the trap.
Because they like to burrow into soft wood, choosing an untreated wood like pine is excellent, as the bees will likely choose it to make tunnels.
Once they get through the side holes, they’ll be going up to explore the main channel. This is why we drill the side holed aimed upwards. The holes will not let in the sunlight, but the mason jar will. The bees will think that it’s the exit and will naturally head over there, where they’ll be trapped.
A boring bee trap is designed so that the bees fly down to the jar, and once they go past the lid they’re effectively trapped. They cannot fly directly up, and they use the light source as a navigation point where they head to once they find an ideal place to lay their eggs. Once they reach the jar, they cannot escape it.
A drop of honey or sweet liquid is not necessary to make carpenter bee traps, but it can help you jump start the process. Once your trap starts to catch some bees, the rest will also come, because of the pheromones that the dead bees exude.
DIY Carpenter Bee Trap FAQ
What is the best wood to make carpenter bee traps?
They’re attracted to the soft wood, so using untreated lumber like cedar or pine will be the best option.
How often should I empty my homemade carpenter bee trap?
When you install your wood bee trap you expect it to work all season for you. Emptying it regularly is tricky, because you’re not really sure whether all the bees are dead or alive, and if you unscrew the jar, some of them might fly out.
So ideally you should empty it in the fall when all the carpenter bees will surely be dead.
Where do you place a diy carpenter bee trap?
If you have an active infestation, before you hang a boring bee trap at your house you should plug up the holes they’ve previously made. After you do that, you should hang your trap directly over the bee nest.
If you don’t have an active infestation, you should look for strategic places to hang the homemade carpenter bee trap, like corners and peaks of the building and try to use a sunny spot, as they are naturally attracted to warmth.
Conclusion: why you should build a carpenter bee trap.
Getting rid of carpenter bees is actually quite easy if you make carpenter bee traps. The whole process only requires the most basic DIY tools from you and is incredibly easy, all you need to do is drill some holes in the block of wood and attach a mason jar to it.
What it will do is trick the bees into thinking this is a potential nest, and eventually they’ll be trapped. Using a diy carpenter bee trap is an ecologically safe option and will not harm you, your pets, children and other useful insects.
Have you ever had a problem with carpenter bees? Tell me about your experience in the comments down below!
Also read:
References
- Get Rid of Carpenter Bees? Yes, Please! (Prepared by Gary Alpert, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. Updated 2015 by Matt Frye, New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, Cornell University)
  https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/43827/carpenter-bees-FS-NYSIPM.pdf?sequence=1
- All Buzz. No Sting. Carpenter Bees Do Just What Their Name Suggests (Mary M. Woodsen)
  https://blogs.cornell.edu/nysipm/2016/05/27/all-buzz-no-sting-carpenter-bees-do-just-what-their-name-suggests/
- Carpenter Bees (Richard Houseman Urban Entomology State Specialist Division of Plant Sciences)
  https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7424
2022-04-26
Bumble Bee vs. Carpenter Bee: Similarities and Differences
The differences between honeybees and bumblebees are obvious, but it’s not the case for carpenter bees. It’s very easy to confuse these two bee types because of their visual similarities.
If you saw a carpenter bee in your home yard, that is an alarming sign, but if you found a bumble bee, there is nothing to worry about. So, we’ve made a bumble bee Vs carpenter bee comparison to help you identify the insects correctly.
Taking a Closer Look at Carpenter Bees and Bumble Bees
Bumblebees vs Carpenter Bees Appearance
There are a bunch of visual characteristics that may help you to distinguish these two insects:
1. Carpenter bees’ body color is usually dark gray or even black. In contrast, bumble bees’ chests are always colored yellow.
2. Carpenter bee size is huge. Bumble bees are smaller and shorter: 0,4”- 0,8” vs 0,9”- 0,11”.
3. Bumble bees are much fluffier: bushy villi on sphere-shaped bodies gave them a “bumble” name.
4. Carpenter bees usually have purple or dark blue wings. Bumble bees – translucent orange wings that are smaller in size.
Hive building and appearance
Principles of choosing and building nests are pretty different for these bee types.
Bumblebee nests
Bumble bees usually search for holes and tunnels in the ground or, rarely, in trees and in houses. They do not dig them on their own but settle down in abandoned holes and burrows. Typical homes for the bumble bees usually are the burrows left by rabbits, moles, shrews or natural deepenings like small ground caves.
Despite the fact that they build a nest in the ground, the structure of the nest itself is pretty similar to the honeybees’ ones. Bumble bees fill the nest with honeycombs and cover the walls with nectar and pollen.
Carpenter bee nests
The main difference between carpenter bees and bumblebees is that wood bees dig their nests in dry wood. This is the only bee type that has chews strong enough to gnaw tunnels in such a hard material.
Even more, the tunnels made by these bees have clear circle-shaped diameters (usually 0,6”).
Wide systems with dozens of long tunnels and halls don’t have one ounce of honey. The reason is that these bees do not belong to the honey-producing type.
Instead of making honey, they collect nectar and pollen to make a nourishing mixture that will be stacked into the cells with larvae. The cells themselves are built right in the tunnels one after another and are separated by strong walls made of wood chips and bees’ saliva.
Tunnel systems of these insects weaken the wood and may cause problems with the sustainability of the house.
Differences in ways of relocation
Bumblebee versus carpenter bee battle continues even in how they relocate. It’s impossible to remove a carpenter bee nest without touching the material where the nest is dug out. So, there is one way left – making their life in the nest unbearable.
Turn on loud music, plant herbs like lemon balm or Melissa, paint the wood and they will leave by themselves. After the swarm leaves their home, take measures to prevent bees in future: seal entrances to the nest and all gaps, cracks, and treat the wood.
Bumble bees’ nests are pretty similar to the honey bees’ ones, so the technique is pretty the same. You smoke out the nest in the early morning or in the late evening, place the nest in a special box and move it at least 4 miles away from the original place of living.
Surely, you shouldn’t forget about safety measures during these operations. Even despite the fact that bumble bees and carpenter bees are pretty friendly, you may trigger an attack while operating near the nest.
Colonies
A generation change occurs in the spring for both bee types, but carpenter bees and bumblebees have different approaches in building up new colonies and swarms.
The bumble bees’ youth tend to leave their nest to find a new place after the old one is overfilled. In contrast, carpenter bees prefer to prolong tunnels systems for years making new entrances, halls etc.
Even more, several female carpenter bees may share one entrance and one nest which is exotic for the bee family – usually female species fight for supremacy over the whole swarm.
Behaviour
Carpenter bees and bumble bees belong to one family, so the behavior is pretty similar for both types. However, there are a couple of differences.
Habits
Carpenter bees and bumblebees both play the role of pollinators in the ecosystem. So, both bee types spend their lives searching for nectar and flying from one flower to another.
They are attracted by sweet smells, water and bright colors. The main difference here is in the nest-building: carpenter bees dig nests in wood and bumble bees build their homes in the ground or in peoples’ houses.
Aggression
Carpenter bees and bumble bees are not aggressive and completely friendly to people. However, they may attack you if you try to offend them or the nest by waving your hands away, getting too close etc.
Only female species of these two bee types have a stinger, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be bitten. However, you shouldn’t neglect the safety rules. If you were stung, immediately go to a hospital – carpenter bee or bumblebee stinger is dangerous. Even more, it may be lethal in case the bite site is somewhere around the neck.
FAQ
Some frequently asked questions about bumble bees and carpenter bees.
Do carpenter bees sting or bite you?
Only female carpenter bees can sting you, male species just don’t have a sting. Even despite the fact that this bee type is friendly to people, be careful – a sting in the neck of the female carpenter bee may be lethal for you.
Do bumble bees make holes in wood?
No, they don’t. Bumble bees live and build their nests in abandoned burrows or in trees’ hollows. Only carpenter bees gnaw out tunnels in wood to make a hive.
Why do carpenter bees fly at you?
Carpenter bees are not aggressive and the majority of the population is unable to sting or bite. Most likely they are attracted by your smell or your colorful clothes. Also, it’s possible that they’re trying to defend the nest nearby.
Is it that hard to distinguish bumblebee and carpenter bee?
No, it’s easy. Follow the steps in the article to identify the type of the bee. Remember that bees are the peoples’ friends and sometimes it’s much better to leave them or let them fly away peacefully than trying to get rid of them in radical ways.
Have you ever had a bumble bees’ nest in your home yard? Maybe carpenter bees in the house? How did you cope with it? Share your experience in the comments below.
Also read:
References
- Why You Shouldn’t Kill the Bees in Your Garden (Peter)
  https://www.mrpest.ca/why-you-shouldnt-kill-bees-in-your-garden/
- Moving Bees (The Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association)
  https://www.bedsbka.org.uk/membership/good-practice/moving-bees/
- Large Carpenter Bees (E.E. Grissell, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry; Malcolm T. Sanford (retired) and Thomas R. Fasulo (retired), University of Florida)
  https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/xylocopa.htm
2022-04-26
How to Get Rid of Bees in Wall
Even despite the fact that bees very rarely sting people, a nest in the wall may be very dangerous for the house inhabitants. It’s extremely important to identify a hive in time and take appropriate measures.
However, getting rid of a beehive in house wall is not an easy task that includes a bunch of methods. In the article, we’ll tell you how to get rid of bees in wall and describe the most effective and widely used techniques.
Removing bees from the wall includes bee type identification, getting rid of the nest, and taking measures to prevent bees in the future. So, let’s dive into the “how to get rid of bee hive in wall” question.
Which Bees Build Their Hives in Walls and How to Identify Them
It’s very important to identify the bee type correctly and make sure that you are dealing exactly with bees but not wasps or hornets. However, it’s pretty hard to distinguish between domestic and wild bees, so we recommend catching a couple of insects in the special trap to make your investigation easier.
Domestic bees and wild bees
Frankly speaking, it’s pretty hard to distinguish these two bee types for an unprepared person. The main visual differences lie in coloring and body size.
Wild bees frequently have dull colors, moreover, sometimes they can be fully gray. Domestic bees are usually bigger. Wild bees are more aggressive and active, so be careful.
Wasps
- More contrast coloring. Stripes on a honeybee body are darker and have blurred edges.
- Body is visually smaller and tinier.
- Bees’ bodies are hairy and wasps’ ones are not.
- Bee paws are thicker.
Hornets
- Hornets are much bigger than wasps, honeybees or bumblebees.
- Have similarities in body structure with wasps.
- Red tones are presented in coloring
Remember that clearing up a wasp or, especially, hornet nest is very dangerous, so we’d recommend calling for professionals in this case.
How to Get Rid of Bees in Your Walls
After discovering a bee nest in the house, you have a couple of options to choose from:
- Moving the nest to the other place;
- Destroying the nest;
- Leaving the nest in the same place;
Also, if the bees are domestic, you may try to sell the nest to apiarists. The buyer will take care of the hive, and you’ll get a profit.
Bear in mind that these kinds of works are always best left to professionals.
Each of these methods has its own variations and requires special conditions to be applied. In the next paragraphs, we will take a closer look at each of these techniques.
Preparation
First of all, wear tight clothes that don’t leave unexposed areas on your body, including the face. If you have an opportunity, ask a beekeeper to give you a special anti-bite costume. Some winter clothes may be suitable, but nothing can replace professional equipment.
Identify the bees type to choose the time for operation correctly and make sure that you deal with bees but not with hornets or wasps. Wild bees are better to get rid of at the start of the spring.
There are fewer insects in the nest that season, so the chance you’ll be bitten is lower. In contrast, because of continuous cold, domestic bees are weak at the end of the winter. The best daytime for action is early morning or late evening.
Make sure that you’re not emitting any smells, which may anger the bees.
Don’t forget that the hive in the wall might be very heavy (up to 90 pounds!) because of the large amount of honey stored inside, so you should take a helper with you.
Getting Rid of Bees in Walls
Firstly, dissemble wall panels in the place where the beehive is to make further manipulations easier. It may be scary – when angry, the bee swarm will attack you instantly. Once you gain access to the nest, you have a couple of ways to follow.
1. Moving the nest to the other place
Bees play a huge role in the local ecosystem. They pollinate blooms and, basically, around 85% of plants with flowers, including fruit trees and vegetables.
The whole food chain would be destroyed without bees, so it’s highly not recommended to kill them or destroy beehives. So, the very first option is to move the nest with the whole swarm to a safer place.
The most widely adopted technique is smoking bees out. Professionals usually use a special device called a smoker, but regular people may use a small bonfire or burning sticks.
A smoke calms down bees in the nest. Also, you can use speakers. Turn on bird sounds at full volume and wait until the bees leave the nest on their own. After smoking out the hive is disconnected from the wall and transported as far as possible from the house.
Sometimes an evicted swarm returns to its original place. To prevent this, the nest is moved to the place where another swarm is already settled. Also, it’s highly recommended to seal all the gaps in the walls and in the roof with polyurethane foam.
2. Destroying the nest
How to kill bees in a wall? On some occasions, when bees from the nest are flying in the house or biting children, desperate measures must be taken.
The most popular and affordable method is to use gasoline or “White-spirit.” The solution is sprayed right into the nest. However, these kinds of chemicals may be dangerous for humans because of their high toxicity and flammability.
You may use a similar method to the “smoking out” technique. Bees are poisoned with the vapors of burning sulfur fuse.
Using toxic chemicals is the most unpleasant but possible method. Chemicals like “Smell Net” or dichlorvos are sprayed into the nest 2 times at intervals of 1 day. Don’t forget about safety measures while working with chemicals.
After all the bees are killed, the nest is burned off. Don’t forget that destroying the bee nest without good reason is a bad idea.
Some experts answering the “How to get rid of bees nest in wall cavity” suggest sealing all cracks and gaps in the wall making the hive inaccessible for bees.
However, in 90% of situations that is a bad idea: bees most likely will find another way to the nest. Moreover, this new way might be thrown at your house interior, so such a method may be dangerous for you and your family.
3. Leaving the nest in the same place
Sometimes, when the beehive is not a threat for house inhabitants, the nest can be left untouched. However, it’s a rare occasion when the nest sits in the wall.
Bees attack people only when defending themselves or the hive. Even more, bees die after biting. So, sometimes there is nothing critical about living close to the beehive.
How to Prevent Bees
It’s always better to prevent a nest formation as early as possible, so we present a suggestions list for preventing bees in your house.
1. Plant herbs like lemon balm, mint or basil. Bees don’t like its smell.
2. Seal all the gaps in the walls and in the roof with polyurethane foam.
3. Set up some bee traps around your house.
4. Set up a drinker for bees in the distance from the house.
5. Use an ultrasonic repeller.
Can I Get Rid of the Bee Nest by Myself?
Yes, you can. A correctly defined bee type, right method, good preparation, thoughtful action, and good return prevention will spare you from bees. However, if you are not sure of your abilities, it’s always best to leave the work for professionals.
Have you ever faced a problem with a bee nest in your house? How did you deal with it? Share your experience in the comments below.
Also read:
References
- Why bees are so important to the environment (Department for Environment and Water Comment Policy)
  https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/goodliving/posts/2016/10/bees
- How to Make a Bee Trap From a 2 Liter Bottle (Danielle Smyth)
  https://homeguides.sfgate.com/how-to-make-a-bee-trap-from-a-2-liter-bottle-12442070.html
- Dichlorvos
  https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/dichlorvos.pdf
2022-04-26
Carpenter Bee Trap Bait: DIY Carpenter Bee Attractant
Carpenter bee traps are a fairly effective, humane, cheap, and safe way to control these pesky inerts, unlike the exterminator, because they don’t involve the use of harmful chemicals or high additional costs. But what is the best carpenter bee bait to use?
I want to share with you carpenter bee lures proven by my experience and how to make them at home.
Guide on What Attracts Carpenter Bees Into the Trap
Common situation: it’s a beautiful warm summer day, you go out and see uninvited guests. Carpenter bees (Xylocopa valga) live on every continent except Antarctica. They have a body length of 12 to 25 mm.
The color is black, greenish-black, and dark blue with a metallic sheen or purple tint. The wings of these insects are black with a blue-violet sheen.
They can be quite aggressive: females sting, while males may bite. But the most unpleasant thing is the damage they do to all untreated wooden surfaces as they feed on this material.
Traps are a fairly effective bee control tool for carpenters, whether you made them yourself or bought them ready-made. In addition, many of them work quite humanely and are completely safe for children, pets and the environment. The main question is how to attract carpenter bees and what are the best lures to make the most out of your traps.
The baits that you can buy in the store sometimes contain harmful substances and are quite expensive. These are the two most common reasons why you might decide to use a homemade lure.
First of all, it is worth understanding what attracts carpenter bees. These are any smells that are reminiscent of their natural habitat or food. Such smells include wood and everything that’s sweet.
All bees, including carpenters, eat a lot of sugar. Of course, not a refined one, but a more primitive version. Believe me, they’ve got sweet tooth just like we do. Nectar is also a type of sugar.
Bees ration 100% consists of sugar and includes three of its varieties, according to studies conducted in 2012 by the American Center for Biotechnology, 24% is glucose, 21% — fructose, 55% — sucrose. What does it give us? — Understanding that sugar can really attract carpenter bees and, accordingly, the basis of our bait should be sweet.
Here are some lures I’ve tried myself:
- The first bait option is fruit or fruit puree. Sweet berries will do too. The choice here is limited only by your imagination and the fruits available. The main recommendation is that fruits should be ripe and have a pronounced smell. Several varieties can be used. For example, I tried pineapple and strawberries. For maximum effectiveness, the fruit should be finely chopped or crushed before being placed in the trap.
- Sweet syrups and jams. Any sweet syrups and jams with a bright flavor will do. For example, cherry or strawberry syrup worked pretty well for me.
- Propolis. More precisely, propolis canvas. This is the fabric that beekeepers put in the hive, and the bees soak it with propolis. It can be purchased at farm shops. The application is quite simple: you need to cut off a small piece and put it in a trap. The advantage of this bait is that it lasts quite a long time compared to the rest.
- Honey or sugar syrup. My favorite and best-performing option. Here are the instructions for how to prepare it.
Step by Step Instructions:
Let’s start preparing our bait. By itself, sugar will not attract the attention of bees, because it has no smell. Care must be taken to ensure that insects can find the bait by smell.
Therefore, there are two options for the basis for the attractant. Each of them can be used separately, without adding any additional components, or mixed. Personally, I prefer the combination and frequently add a few more ingredients to enhance the effect, but more on that later.
1. The first and most common option is honey. It does not require any preliminary preparation, you can simply pour honey into the trap. It is important to keep it liquid, as it is more convenient to use and the smell is stronger, so the result will be better. If necessary, honey can be melted in a water bath.
2. The second option is sugar syrup. Preparing it is quite simple. Mix equal proportions of sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar is completely dissolved. After that, let the syrup cool to room temperature. It is important not to store the syrup for a long time. It lasts up to a week if refrigerated. Unfortunately, after that, it can ferment, and such methods for extending storage as alcohol or lemon juice are not applicable, as they will scare away the bees. Therefore, it is better to prepare the syrup immediately before use.
3. Next, honey and syrup must be mixed in a ratio of 3 to 1. With this consistency, the application will be as economical and convenient as possible.
4. Now a little about what else can be added to our bait. For a more viscous consistency, and therefore economical use, liquid soap works well. Opt for unscented soaps, as any synthetic scents will repel insects, which we certainly don’t want. You can also use starch. A small amount will be enough, be guided by the consistency, it should not be too thick.
  You can also add royal jelly and sawdust of conifers, if any. The option is selective, bee carpenters.
5. For example, I bought the first one in a farm shop, and the second one I got from a neighbor who sawed firewood.
6. We mix all this and go to fill our traps.
Tips to Bait and Trap Carpenter Bees More Effectively:
- Use more than one trap. Apply as many traps as possible in areas where carpenter bees spawn.
- Pay particular attention to wooden objects, sunny areas, and soil near them.
- Use traps throughout the insect season. They tend to come back even a few times a season.
  Treat the entrances to the trap with bait. If you just pour lure into the trap, it will not work as effectively because the stronger the smell, the better the result.
- The trap must be clearly visible. Paint it, place it in a conspicuous place. It should be easy for the bees to find it.
- Make sure that children or pets do not touch the traps, this can scare away insects.
- Give the traps time. Don’t expect them to work right away. But, make sure they have fresh bait and remove dead bees regularly.
- For a faster result, fill gaps where the bees are already swarming. So, they will have to pay attention to traps in search of new housing and a source of food. You need to wait until they take off, and do not forget about safety.
FAQ
How do you exterminate carpenter bees?
Bees falling into a trap cannot get out of there and do not pose a danger because they die over time. Repeat the procedure until the complete destruction of the colony.
What to do with carpenter bees after you trap them?
Wait for the carpenter bees to die in the trap. Carefully open it and discard them, and pour fresh bait into the trap. Make sure that such bees do not stay in the trap for a long time, they scare away the rest, and the trap does not work as efficiently. Better to use gloves.
When should I spray for carpenter bees?
The spray is an effective method of repelling carpenter bees but not of fighting. Accordingly, its use is possible only a few days after the complete extermination of the colony and, preferably, the treatment of wooden surfaces.
DIY Carpenter Bee Trap Bait That Works
Carpenter bees can become a serious problem and ruin the idyll in the yard. In this article, I shared a recipe for bait that you can make at home and options for improving it.
It is based on simple and affordable ingredients, is harmless, and will effectively complement your carpenter’s bee traps. Have you tried carpenter’s bee traps yet? Prefer to buy bait or make your own? Share your experience in the comments.
Also read:
References
- Wood Destroying Pest Study Guide (Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Division of Plant Industry)
  https://ag.utah.gov/documents/Wood%20DestroyingPestStudyGuide.pdf
- Baited Pitfall Traps (U.S. Department of Energy)
  https://www.science.gov/topicpages/b/baited+pitfall+traps
- Sample Pest Management Procedures for Specific Pests (Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health)
  https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/files/publications/guidelines-pest-stratagies-041216.pdf
2022-04-26

How to Get Rid of Sweat Bees: Complete Halictid Bees Control & Prevention Guide

Sweat bees are a common problem for many gardeners. Come summer, those small green insects will be flying all over your garden, and you’ll be wondering how to get rid of sweat bees for good. Here we’ll look into a complete guide on how to control and prevent sweat bees from infesting your garden, as well as the best products to get rid of them.

Top Pick

Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, Mosquito Repellent, Pump Spray, 4 Ounce, (Pack...

Mighty Mint Gallon (128 oz) Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil - Natural Spray for Spiders,...

RESCUE! VisiLure® TrapStik for Wasps, Mud Daubers, Carpenter Bees – 2 Pack

Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, Mosquito Repellent, Pump Spray, 4 Ounce, (Pack…

Mighty Mint Gallon (128 oz) Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil – Natural Spray for Spiders,…

RESCUE! VisiLure® TrapStik for Wasps, Mud Daubers, Carpenter Bees – 2 Pack

Pros

Deet-free natural repellent

Safe to use around pets, children

Very effectively traps sweat bees

Buy

Check Latest Price

My review

Read review

Top Pick

Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, Mosquito Repellent, Pump Spray, 4 Ounce, (Pack…

Pros

Deet-free natural repellent

Buy

Check Latest Price

My review

Read review

Mighty Mint Gallon (128 oz) Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil – Natural Spray for Spiders,…

Pros

Safe to use around pets, children

Buy

Check Latest Price

My review

Read review

RESCUE! VisiLure® TrapStik for Wasps, Mud Daubers, Carpenter Bees – 2 Pack

Pros

Very effectively traps sweat bees

Buy

Check Latest Price

My review

Read review

What are sweat bees?

Every summer gardeners face the problem of how to get rid of sweat bees: little green pests flying around with a heavy load of pollen on their back legs. From their name, you could guess that they are attracted to sweat, which, during a hot summer day in the garden, is difficult to avoid. Sweat bees become a real problem when they’re hovering in front of your face or landing on your arms and skin to drink your sweat. Do sweat bees sting? Yes, though thankfully it only leaves a small irritation.

But what are they exactly? Sweat bees are also called Halictid Bees and come from a large insect family with more than 120 species that are incredibly important for pollinating plants. While some bees are specific about the plants that they choose to pollinate, sweat bees will pollinate anything and everything in their way. With the current situation around honeybees, insects like sweat bees are important to keep your garden blooming.

Sweat bees infestation 101

When you have lots of sweat bees nests you’re risking being swarmed by them in your every outing. Let’s look at the quick guide on how to identify sweat bees infestation and what risks it poses.

Quick sweat bees identification

It’s relatively easy to tell sweat bees apart from regular honey bees.

Most of them have a green metallic to dull black sheen, their abdomen is purple or blue and their legs are furry.
They are also smaller compared to regular bees, about ½ inch in size, and are very slender.
Sweat bees, unlike honey bees, are often solitary and nest in the bare ground or deadwood.

Common sweat bees species (brief description)

Halictid bees are a family that includes many types of bees. Among them are Small Miner Bees, Green Metallic Bees, Halictid Bees, Alkali Bees, Cuckoo Halictid Bees, and Sweat Bees.

Metallic sweat bees

They’re very easy to spot because of their bright metallic green color. Some of the metallic sweat bees are fully green in color, but some have brown and white stripes on their abdomen. These bees can be active all year round if it’s warm enough and are common to the South, specifically Florida.

Agapostemon

Those bees are mostly solitary ground nesters, though some might be making nests very close to one another. Females are iridescent green, but males have yellow and black stripes on their legs and abdomen.

Halictus

Like many others, halictus are small bees attracted to human perspiration. These bees can be solitary, communal, or social. In warmer climates, they have social ground nests, and in cool climates – solitary nests.

Cuckoo Halictid Bees

If every family has one annoying member, then this is the annoying cousin of the Halictid family. These bees, being cuckoos, don’t have their own nests and lay their eggs in the nests of other bees. They take over the cell of another bee, destroy its eggs and lay their own instead. While they go foraging for nectar, they don’t actually have any structures that let them collect pollen.

What attracts sweat bees?

If you keep asking yourself ‘why do sweat bees keep landing on me?’ in summer, the answer is quite simple. As you can guess from the name, human perspiration is a major attractor for these bees. They’re particularly attracted to the salt in human sweat that they don’t find in the pollen of flowers. However, they’re also attracted to a large variety of flowers. You name the flower – they’ll collect its pollen. The majority of the flowers that bloom in the gardens, meadows, and even pots attract these bees in summer, and they indiscriminately pollinate a variety of plants.

Sweat bees dangers

Generally speaking, sweat bees aren’t very dangerous but are incredibly annoying to humans. Do sweat bees bite? Only females of the species are able to sting. Sweat bees aren’t aggressive, but they can sting if they’re disturbed, which happens when humans try to fan them off and accidentally touch them.

Usually, the sting isn’t too dangerous, however, you should seek medical treatment if you have multiple stings, trouble breathing, or have a known bee allergy.

Sweat bees infestation signs

Because sweat bees nest in the ground or in the old wood, it’s possible to find the nest entrances in the ground or wood. It might be an excavated area around their cells and clusters of cells. The cells themselves might be lined with a wax-like substance.

A couple of sweat bees might not be a problem, however, if you see them in your yard in large numbers, it’s important to know how to get rid of sweat bees before they make your and your family’s life a nuisance.

How to Get Rid of Sweat Bees: Easy Extermination Guide

The main ways of getting rid of sweat bees are natural and chemical-based insecticides, repellants, and bees traps. However, sweat bees are very important natural pollinators, so as much as that is possible, you should look into ways of preventing their infestations and other ways of repelling them without necessarily killing sweat bees.

Inspect

Carefully inspect your property for the signs of sweat bees. You might identify the type of sweat bee by its color.

Female sweat bees carry pollen on their hind legs that have special hairs for attaching pollen. Males resemble females in a lot of ways, except they don’t have the hairs on their hind legs and sometimes have yellow-black striped abdomens.

Inspecting the species of the bees is very important to make sure they’re not endangered and whether you should obtain a permit to extinguish them.

Find their habitat

The majority of sweat bees nest in the ground in dry bare dirt, also often in rotting wood. Depending on the type, sweat bees could live alone or in colonies.

Begin by inspecting heaps of deadwood inside the soil, as those are the most common nesting places.

Prepare protective clothing

Do sweat bees sting and do you need to wear protective clothing? Although they rarely sting, unless they’re provoked, if you’re getting rid of their nests it’s important to wear proper protection.

It doesn’t mean that you should wear a full bee suit, but you should wear some long clothing that will protect your arms and legs, and a net that will protect your face. You could also use a bee repellent for protection.

Treat

The fastest way to get rid of the sweat bees is to use treatment.

Insecticides

If you are planning on killing sweat bees that have infested your garden plants, you should look for organic options. There are many organic sprays with natural ingredients. What kills sweat bees? Mint is the most important ingredient in the majority of organic sweat bees insecticides.

Set Bee Traps

Bee traps are an excellent way to get rid of sweat bees. Those can be purchased ready or made on your own. The way it works is quite simple: you put something sweet inside the trap that will attract the bees, and once they get in – they can’t get out of the small funnel-like opening.

Repellents

Protecting your skin from sweat bees is also important. This is a good option for not killing sweat bees but pushing them away from your proximity. Like many insect repellents, those exist in the form of sprays and ointments.

How to Prevent Sweat Bees?

We already know what sweat bees like: salt in our sweat, open, well-lit ground, old wood, flowers, humidity. What they don’t like: mint, essential oils, proper ventilation.

This tells us not only how to kill sweat bees but how to prevent them from ever causing a problem.

Mint is your best friend in sweat bees prevention. From growing it in pots to using mint rubs and oils/sprays – it can be a natural deterrent both for skin and surfaces.
Plants and ground cover: if there is no open ground that they can use as a nesting spot, sweat bees won’t settle in your yard. Planting plants like sunflowers, honeysuckle, wisteria, and others, as well as using mulch and pebbles to cover your ground will prevent the sweat bees from infesting your property.
Proper ventilation and personal hygiene: as far as it’s possible you should try to prevent humidity and perspiration that will attract the sweat bees.

Top 3 Best Sweat Bees Treatments

There are different ways of how to kill sweat bees and several products that will do so quickly and safely for you. Let’s look at my top picks of products.

1. Repel Plant-Based Insect Repellent

Sale

Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect…

This spray insect repellent is made with essential oil of lemon and eucalyptus. It protects your skin if you’re outside for up to 6 hours. It’s deet-free and can be used on children. REPEL is a company that specializes in insect repellants, from mosquitoes to other insects.

What I like about this repellant is, first and foremost, a pleasant smell. Bug sprays always smell horrible, and most of the time by the time you’re finished applying it, you’re coughing and scrunching your nose away from it. This spray has a nice refreshing scent of natural oils. It also doesn’t leave greasy sticky skin afterward.

Natural ingredient-based repellents are rarely effective, but I’ve used this one over the years and found it really effective in protecting from sweat bees, though it does need to be reapplied on a particularly hot and humid summer day. It also comes in a pack of 2, so saves you a lot of money.

Pros:	Cons:
What I like about it Deet-free natural repellent Nice smell Effective Doesn’t leave a sticky finish Comes in a pack of 2	What I don’t like about it Needs to be reapplied often on a hot day The smell dissipates over time

2. Mighty Mint Gallon Peppermint Oil

Mighty Mint Gallon (128 oz) Insect and Pest…

An excellent nontoxic natural spray that is particularly effective against sweat bees. Its main ingredient is highly concentrated mint oil, as well as other plant-based ingredients, so it’s not only effective but also doesn’t harm other plants.

Mighty Mint is known for its organic products for pest and insect control that they make with US-farmed peppermint.

The formula is incredibly concentrated and comes in a large 128 oz gallon, that you can pour in to make sprays and rubs for surfaces.

From all the products that I’ve used, this one got instant effects when I needed treatment for sweat bees. The fact that it’s 100% organic is excellent because it’s pet and child-safe.

Pros:	Cons:
What I like about it Extremely useful against infestations and colonies – works really quickly All-natural ingredients Safe to use around pets, children Comes in a big gallon	What I don’t like about it Extremely potent smell, cover your eyes when using it

3. RESCUE! TrapStik for Bees

RESCUE! VisiLure® TrapStik for Wasps, Mud…

This bee trap uses a VisiLure technology that lures bees with appealing colors and multi-dimensional patterns. Once they’re attracted, they get stuck to the sticky surface. It doesn’t have agents that are killing sweat bees, instead, it lures them to the trap.

I like that it’s very effective in killing sweat bees. Even when I had large infestations of them, it dealt with them perfectly. I also like that this trap has been designed in order to protect birds, bats, and other small animals as well as the fact that this is a US-made product with a long history of safely finding ways of how to get rid of sweat bees and other pests.

Pros:	Cons:
What I like about it Very effectively traps sweat bees Easy to install Has special technology that doesn’t use chemical odors to trap bees Has protection against birds and other animals	What I don’t like about it Sometimes it can trap other insects like butterflies

Conclusion: what kills sweat bees?

There are many effective ways of how to get rid of sweat bees: bee traps, repellents, and natural and chemical insecticides. Sweat bees are not aggressive by nature, but in large quantities, they can make your life and the life of your family unbearable in summer. The best way to deal with the problem is to prevent it, so use different plants that cover the soil and don’t let sweat bees build nests, as well as things like pebbles, mulch, and try to get rid of the old wood on your property.

Write about how you dealt with sweat bees in the comments and share your tips!

References

Wisconsin Bee Identification Guide (Patrick Liesch, Christy Stewart, and Christine Wen)
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/files/2016/08/WI-BEE-IDENTIFICATION-GUIDE.pdf
Sweat or Halictid Bees (University of Florida)
https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/halictid_bees.htm#dist

2022-04-26

How to Keep Bees Away: Effective Bee Repelling Methods
We all know that bees are good for the environment, but let’s admit it: it doesn’t make them more welcome in our backyard, not to mention in the kitchen.
This article explores how to keep bees away without going to extremes. Learn how you can stay humane and still expel the striped guests you simply don’t want on your property. A list of natural remedies is included as well as an overview of other popular solutions.
Keeping Bees Away: A Concise Guide
The key to never a bee-free home is to eliminate as many potential bee attractions as possible, including sweet-smelling stuff, confined shady spaces, and open saltwater sources.
To enhance your protection even more, try using humane repellents such as those based on pungent-smelling essential oils like rosemary, cloves, peppermint, citronella, or lemongrass.
Can You Prevent Bees from Entering House Interiors and Patios?
Just like any other animal, beasts come to visit our homes for a reason. What exactly brings them to this or that space might vary depending on a number of factors, such as the type of bees that they belong to (see below if have trouble differentiating between those), time of the year, and the particulars of your property. Identifying the main bee attraction will help you a lot in putting a stop to the invasion.
Like any other living being, the bee is constantly searching for food, water, and shelter. These three constituents of bees’ comfort are also the key reasons why they keep hanging out near or even inside your house as well as hovering over your swimming pool.
When we say food, it includes whatever you prefer to snack on as well as flowers. This is because flowers produce pollen, which is central to the production of honey (bees, in turn, contribute to the environment’s wellbeing by pollinating flowers).
From lavender to crocuses to lilac with a lot in between, plant species that are capable of attracting bees are numerous. That is, the chances that you’ll see some on your territory sooner or later are quite high.
If you live in an area that’s abuzz with bees (pun not intended), you’ll have trouble keeping bee presence at a zero level, especially outdoors.
However, steps like removing potential nesting areas and fragrant things which attract bees will likely help keep it in check. Let’s zoom in on the bee invasion problem to make sure you understand what remedies will work best in your case.
Which Species Are You Dealing With?
This might be new information to you, but not all bees are the same. There are about 20,000 bee species across the globe, of which as many as 4,000 are native to the United States.
Being able to identify what type of bees you are dealing with can help you a lot in warding off the visitors. Probably the most important takeaway should be understanding the probability of aggressive behavior. There are species notorious for their bad temper, while others can be characterized as comparatively meek.
The “Good” Bees
About half an inch long (the queen tends to have a much larger body), honey bees boast yellowish orange and black stripes. They prefer outdoor locations with a lot of flowering plants around but might choose your chimney or a similar nook for nesting purposes during the hot months. Honey bees don’t usually show aggression unless threatened. This is arguably the most common variety.
Although a little bigger, carpenter bees aren’t prone to aggression either. Their nests are often found in deckings and other wooden structures as well as trees.
Finally, there are rather languid and unaggressive bumblebees that tend to nest in the ground with occasional cases of finding residence in tall grass.
The Bad Guys
Colloquially known as killer bees, these are probably the most dangerous of all due to their highly aggressive behavior. Their appearance is quite similar to that of honey bees, which makes identification difficult. Notably, Africanized honey bees prefer to arrange hives in the open air.
What Keeps Bees Away from Your House?
The most probable answer to how you keep bees away is by removing everything that could create a welcoming environment for them. Make sure that your home doesn’t have any creaks and corners where the insects could make a nest.
It doesn’t apply when dealing with bumblebees, which are generally harmless, or the much-feared Africanized honey bees as these species don’t typically use man-made structures for nesting purposes. With honey and carpenter bees, however, chances are high that your house needs a good sealing session if you’ve been seeing a lot of striped visitors.
Inspect your house to spot any holes larger than half an inch. One simple way of preventing bees from entering those and using the area inside for nesting is to use a metal screen.
Be prepared in case you see a nest already formed inside a structure. In this case, don’t try to close it off with a screen; the only humane way of getting rid of a bee family that’s already taken residence in your house is to call a professional beekeeper.
When you have made sure there are no major holes or openings, it’s time to take a tour around the house and check for loose siding. Caulk any gaps in it as well as around the foundation.
Next, get rid of any appliances or furniture that you haven’t used in ages as these will likely be full of cozy creaks that attract bees. This, taken together, is how to prevent bees from entering your house.
Repelling Bees Outdoors
Keeping things neat is the answer to how to deter bees from your patio. Large pieces of junk such as an age-old chest of drawers in your backyard are powerful bee attractions, and so are piles of dry leaves, brush, and twigs.
Try to get rid of those before it’s too late and you have a bee nest on your property. This is one case when prevention is way easier than treatment.
Another element of your patio that is likely to cause an inflow of bees is a pool, especially if it’s a saltwater one. It turns out bees have a strong preference for water that has a high salt content as well as chlorinated water, which often leads them to gather near people’s pools, ruining their summertime parties.
If you don’t always take away leftovers from yesterday’s supper or like to leave an open bottle of juice here and there, this might make matters much worse.
It’s never a bad idea to cover your pool when you are not using it. Also, make sure there aren’t any leaking tubes or joints around. Carry out such inspections on a regular basis to prevent unwanted guests from hovering over the place you expect to give you peace and tranquility.
Additionally, avoid any semblance to flowers as well as having a flower garden that’s too exuberant and too close to areas where you like to hang out. It’s no secret that bees are attracted to flowers.
Unfortunately, they can’t always tell the difference between real and painted ones, so I don’t recommend using furniture with flowery patterns on it on your patio. The same applies to sweet-smelling perfume. Try to avoid it when outdoors during the warmer months of the year, or be prepared to use active defense.
Fragrance at Your Service
Bees have an outstandingly sharp sense of smell, which makes it relatively easy to ward the guests by using pungent-smelling substances. These don’t have to be toxic compounds that will harm the insects as well as the environment.
In fact, there are a number of plants that bees perceive as highly unattractive due to their smell. You can rely on essential oils made from these plants to keep bees at bay on a sunny afternoon.
Cloves are notorious for their pungent smell that deters not only bees but many other insects. Rosemary is another effective bee repellent that can also set a special mood for a while if you mix the oil with water and spray around the areas where bees tend to gather. Other possible essential oils include citronella and lemongrass.
Alternatively, you can plant some peppermint around your house. Bees are typically repelled by its smell, while most humans don’t feel uncomfortable around it.
Keeping It Humane
You might come across tips that suggest you should use insecticide to get rid of bees, but remember: these little striped creatures matter the world to our environment.
Bees are the worlds’ most efficient pollinators, which means they are responsible for preserving a number of plant species that we rely on heavily for food. Believe me, bees are literally worth the buzz, so please stick to the gentler options above.
Bee Removal FAQ
Here’s a little collection of questions that I’ve been asked a lot in the context of fighting off bees’ invasion. These are only answered in a nutshell, so make sure you also check the main body of this article for more details.
What smells do bees hate?
While bees are generally attracted by sweet smells, pungent essential oils such as that of cloves can ward them off for a long time. The list of plants that bees won’t likely put up with is quite long.
Apart from cloves, which produce eugenol, the little stingers are repelled by peppermint, rosemary, cedarwood, a number of citrus fruits, and more. Citronella, which is one of the most common ingredients in plant-based mosquito repellents, can scare away bees as well.
What attracts bees to my house?
Most obviously, bees can’t resist a good honey garden. There’s a wide range of plants that bees find attractive, which means you’ll have to open your doors to these golden-striped visitors if you have those in your patio.
Apart from that, bees will likely hang out next to your picnicking location if you have a habit of leaving sugary foods around. Be prepared to see working bees around if you have a saltwater pool. These insects need water to keep temperature comfortable in their hives, and salty water is their favorite.
Finally, bees tend to look for shelter when swarming, which might well bring them to that cozy nook in your house.
Is there a spray to keep bees away?
Yes, the market is rife with sprays that promise to ward off the unwelcome guests. When it comes to bees, most of these are made with essential oils to avoid harming the bees, which means you can also make your own. Try mixing three parts of water with one part of an essential oil like rosemary or peppermint to keep bees away from your house and/or patio for a while.
The problem with such sprays is that the highly volatile essential oils will evaporate soon. That is, it’s not the most long-lasting solution. Check the sections above for more information on potential alternatives.
Bee-Free Summer? Mission Possible
Bees can get really obnoxious, especially when swarming by your pool on an extra sunny day or interfering with your breakfast of cake and lemonade al fresco. Luckily, there are safe and humane ways in which you can keep them away.
Make sure you don’t showcase bee attractions such as particular plant species next to your home, get rid of welcoming nooks and containers with water. Add a few drops of an essential oil-based spray as needed, and you are good.
Can you think of a time when bees ruined your plans? Let’s share our stories in the comments!
Also read:
References
- Why Honey Bees Need Water and How You Can Provide It (Caitlin Knudsen)
  https://www.beepods.com/honey-bees-need-water/
- Attracting Beneficial Bees (Attracting Beneficial Bees)
  https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/attracting-beneficial-bees/5024.html
- Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing (Marta Ferreira Maia & Sarah J Moore)
  https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S11
- What Smells Do Bees Hate? (Jaco Stander)
  https://beekeepingtrove.com/what-smells-do-bees-hate/
- How many species of native bees are in the United States? (U.S. Department of the Interior)
  https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-many-species-native-bees-are-united-states
2022-04-26
How to Keep Bees Away from Pool
Importunate small buzzing insects frequently become a problem for the pool owners. Bees flying around the pool scaring and sometimes even biting people are not the ones you want to see on your plot.
So, in this article I will describe the most effective and easiest solutions for how to keep bees away from the pool. Moreover, we’ll dive into the bees’ life to find out the reasons why these insects are so concerned about areas with water.
Bees Near Pool: Why are bees attracted to pools?
Bees rarely attack people, but sometimes pool owners want to peacefully get rid of them.
There are a bunch of major reasons and solutions that can be found for all of them. Look through the list, define your case or cases and check the solution that fits you best.
1. Water
The simplest explanation of why swarms of bees flock to the pool or decorative pond is that they want to cool off during warm days and bring some water to the nest. Bees need water to make honey, to hydrate the younger generation and just to drink.
Solution
Obviously, you can’t remove water from the pool, but how to stop bees from coming to it? You can give an alternative water supply for bees – make a bee waterer.
First of all, find the direction of where bees are nesting and place a couple of bowls or plates with water in that direction. Setting up a small fountain may be a more aesthetic but expensive solution.
Second way is to isolate a plot with a pool with a high solid fence, but it’s not the easiest method.
If you found a nest in your house or plot, check out an appropriate paragraph. It’s highly not recommended to destroy bees’ nests, so we don’t suggest it.
2. Flowers
Majority of all bees spend their lives flying and collecting nectar from flowers. Nectar is vital for bees’ lives, because it’s the main source of energy for them and raw material for honey. The process of pollination is vital for flowers, so if you have flowers near the pool, I’d recommend replanting them in other places.
Solution
Removing flowering is the obvious option, but also you can plant some herbs like lemon balm, mint, wormwood or lavender – bees don’t like the smell of these plants. The method may significantly reduce the amount of bees flying around the pool or even completely remove them.
3. Food
Sweet food may be a point of attraction for bees and other insects. Nutrients always attract all types of living creatures, and bees are not the exception. Sweets like honey, chocolate, and sugar drinks are better not to leave in open space, especially near water.
Solution
Every smell that is pleasant for humans is pleasant for bees too, so the solution is to remove foods’ smell. You should bring all the food into the house or cover it with some kind of pot, saucepan or special cloche for dishes to keep sweat bees out of the pool.
4. Apiary on a neighbor plot
If you have a neighbor-beekeeper, most likely he didn’t care about beekeeping standards like minimum fence height and the number of hives while building an apiary. So now huge bee swarms fly around the nearest territory and terrorize people, especially, near places like pool.
Solution
Obviously, the most effective solution here is to make your neighbor take care of his bees and his apiary, which most likely is placed incorrectly.
However, you may try out some or all methods in this article to repel bees from swimming pool and make it unattractive for them.
5. Nest in your house
Sometimes bees choose peoples’ houses as the best place for making a nest. Inspect the house, especially the attic, walls and space under the roof. Also, the nest may be placed on a tree or on the fence corner If you found one, there are a couple of ways you may follow.
Solutions
Honey bees are very useful and important to the whole ecosystem of the area, so it’s highly not recommended to destroy their nests. Transferring the nest is widely practiced instead to get bees away from the pool.
However, situations when bees in the house may be dangerous for people sometimes occur, and there is no way except evicting, poisoning or even destroying the nest.
The most popular option is to smoke out the insects using a simple bonfire or a special device called a smoker. Bees would calm down hiding in the nest and then you can bring the nest wherever you want without problems.
The second one is to set up loudspeakers with bird singing. Bees don’t like that kind of sound, so they’ll abandon the nest after some time. However, bees have a trait to return to their ”homeland”, so you should be on the alert.
Chemicals like dichlorvos are used only in extreme cases, when the nest has to be removed immediately.
Never try to get rid of a nest without special protection equipment! Even more, you’d better leave such kind of work for professionals.
6. Colorful clothes or building
Flowers attract bees not only via smell but also viacolor. Bees have a slightly different eye system from the human one. Yellow and blue tones are the favorite ones for bees. In contrast, insects don’t like and are even afraid of dark colors like gray, brown, black etc.
Solution
Avoid using bright colors around the pool. Using darker colors may help you.
Ways to keep bees away from your pool
Here’s a short check-list of some prophylactic measures that may help you avoid problems with bees.
1. Check adjacent territory for bee nests. If some are found, take appropriate measures.
2. Avoid planting flowers near the pool.
3. Set up drinking bowls for bees in the nearest territory.
4. Plant some herbs like lemon balm or mint around the pool.
5. Do not leave food in open space.
6. Avoid wearing bright-colored clothes.
FAQ
Some popular questions about bees and water.
What are the tiny bees in my pool?
Most likely you saw hoverflies or sweat bees around pool. Hoverfly is a type of fly similar to bee and sweat bees are species smaller in size. Both of the insects are widely spread across the US.
How do I keep bees out of my saltwater pool?
Saltwater pools have low salinity levels, and bees like it. However, measures are pretty the same as for a regular pool – check the territory for nests, keep food covered, do not plant flowers, avoid using bright colors.
Why do bees drown in pools?
Sometimes bees accidentally touch a water surface while drinking. Wings get wet, so bees can’t stay in the air and fall. There’s only a small chance that bees will manage to get out of water.
So, what should I do to deter bees from pool?
Find out why the bees showed up at your pool and what you can do about it. In 90% cases the problem is not critical and you’ll easily find out the right solution. Also, don’t forget that bees pollinate flowers and play a massive role in our ecosystem, so killing them is a huge mistake.
Have you had similar problems with bees near the pool? How did you cope with them? Share your experience in the comments below.
Also read:
References
- What colors are bees attracted to in the garden? (New York Botanical Garden) https://libanswers.nybg.org/faq/222585
- Beekeeping Laws & Regulations (American Beekeeping Federation)
  https://www.abfnet.org/page/laws-regs
2022-04-26
How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees WD40: Using a Penetrating Oil
Carpenter bees frequently become a problem for householders. These insects make large tiny tunnels in dry wood slightly weakening it. After a couple of years of constant digging, damage for wood doors, walls, ceiling and furnishing may be significant.
However, carpenter bees hardly ever attack people – only the female bees have stings. Nevertheless, the “how to get rid of carpenter bees WD40” question is getting more and more popular: lubricants like WD40 are an affordable and pretty effective solution for the problem of carpenter bees.
Coping with Carpenter Bees
Even despite the fact that carpenter bees are pretty friendly for people and are very useful for the local ecosystem, these insects hardly spoil wood parts of the house. Using a WD is a good way to get rid of the carpenter bees.
What is WD40?
WD is a lubricant that has been manufactured by a self-titled company for over 60 years. It’s widely used among automobile workshop users for getting rid of rust. However, WD-40 doesn’t provide a long-term effect.
So, what is the main purpose of WD-40? While working with screws, nuts, joints and other fastenings a rust may become a big problem – it blocks movements of the detail making it impossible to operate.
WD-40 call is to dissolve rust as fast as possible to allow specialists to work with old parts of the auto with ease. Obviously, WD-40 is used not only in the auto repairing sphere and is frequently in home toolboxes of regular American people.
Can it kill carpenter bees and why?
Does WD40 kill carpenter bees? Yes, it does. Moreover, WD-40 can kill nearly all bees’ types, but we don’t recommend doing it – try out other, more friendly, methods before applying extreme ones.
Chemical composition of the solution is half consist of “White-Spirit”. This is a popular petroleum-derived degreaser and solvent used in many spheres including building, painting etc. Toxic petrol vapors make bees drop dead.
It’s not safe to use a clear petrol for getting rid of bees because of its flammability and toxicity. That is the reason why some professionals prefer to use WD40 for carpenter bees rebellion.
How to get rid of carpenter bees using WD40?
It’s much easier and less dangerous to get rid of carpenter bees than from regular bees or wasps. We present the list of steps that you should follow to successfully destroy the nest.
1. First of all, choose the right time for the action and prepare for it. Be ready for the operation in early morning or late at night, when the largest number of carpenter bees is in the nest and they are less active.
2. Despite the fact that the majority of carpenter bees are not a danger for the people, bees will try to attack and scare you, so an anti-bee protection costume is recommended. If you don’t have one, wear thick clothes that cover all your body.
3. Find all entrances to the nest. The entrance to the tunnel system is easily recognizable – a long yellow stain is an unmistakable sign. In some cases, carpenter bees’ nests may have up to 5-10 entrances.
4. Take a WB40 spray gun and put a spray stick as deep as you can into the hole. Spay the lubricant in small doses. Repeat for each entrance.
5. If the tunnel system is big enough, most likely a large amount of bees will survive, so repeat a procedure every day until all bees are gone.
6. Sometimes petroleum-derived chemicals like WD40 or White-Spirit don’t destroy the whole nest. In that case “hard artillery” is applied. Pesticide is what kills carpenter bees on contact and is a 100% solution for these cases. But remember that such kinds of chemicals are extremely toxic, so don’t forget about safety measures.
7. After all bees are killed you have to make sure that carpenter bees won’t settle down in the same place again. Seal all the nest entrances with plaster or polyurethane foam.
8. To prevent the appearance of carpenter bees in future, treat the wood in your house with anti-insect solutions. Also, carpenter bees don’t like painted wood and places where Melissa, lemon balm, basil etc. grow.
WD40 and carpenter bees are two incompatible things, so following these steps should help you to rebel bees and prevent them in future. However, if you are not sure in your abilities, it’s always better to leave such work to professionals.
FAQ
Some frequently asked questions about the topic of how to kill wood bees or prevent them.
What is the best way to get rid of carpenter bees?
The most effective and fast method is to use pesticides or lubricants. However, it’s better not to kill bees and try planting unpleasant herbs for bees like basil or lemon balm.
Also, carpenters don’t like loud music and vibrations, so you may try to make bees leave by setting up working speakers in front of the nest.
What smells do carpenter bees hate?
All bees don’t like the smells of lemon balm, mint, basil, Melissa, sagebrush, lavender. Smoke and chemical vapors also drive away carpenter bees.
What attracts carpenter bees?
Bees serve as effective pollinators for plants, so carpenter bees are highly attracted by flowers, sweet smells and bright colors. These bees make their nests in untreated wood, so painted materials are unpleasant for them.
So, Will WD40 Kill Carpenter Bees?
Using WD40 is an effective and affordable method. Because of its petrol-derived basis WD40 is a lethal solution for all kinds of bees. Follow the guide to successfully get rid of carpenter bees for good. In some cases, when the nest is already very large, toxic pesticides are used.
Have you ever had wood bees in your house? How did you handle it? Share your story in the comments below.
Also read:
References
- Pesticide Safety Tips (United State Environmental Protection Agency) https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-incidents/pesticide-safety-tips#:~:text=Use%20protective%20measures%20when%20handling,hands%20immediately%20after%20applying%20pesticides.
- Safety Data Sheet (California CARB Compliant)
  https://files.wd40.com/pdf/sds/mup/wd-40-multi-use-product-aerosol-low-voc-sds-us-ghs.pdf
2022-04-26
Citrus Spray for Carpenter Bees: Ultimate Guide on DIY Repellent
Here’s my story over citrus spray for carpenter bees. Once returning from a family vacation, we noticed interesting “neighbors.” These were unusual dark-colored insects, similar either to large flies or to bumblebees.
They lived directly inside the canvas of our front door. There were several holes, which these insects periodically flew out and into. They’ve obviously set up there and had no plans to leave! I clearly recognized carpenter bees.
Such tenants can cause significant damage to new buildings and wooden surfaces. Moreover, their bites can be quite painful and dangerous, especially for those with allergies. What are these insects and how to deal with them? Here is the natural way to go — citrus spray for carpenter bees.
Guide on Citrus Carpenter Bee Repellent Spray
Carpenter bees can become a real nuisance for country house owners. They often build nests close to humans: in front doors, decking, porches, cornices, stair railings, garden furniture, wooden fence posts and so on. Every year they cause massive damage by tunneling wooden structures in various designs.
The insects could also be quite invasive. It is males who show the greatest aggressiveness, but they are not able to attack since they do not have a sting. Females, however, can sting, but only if seriously provoked. In particular, you shouldn’t swing your arms too much, catch bees or press them hard, it’s better to just ignore their buzzing and flying over your head.
The best defense against carpenter bees is, as in many cases, prevention. Wood such as pine, fir, cypress, oak, and mahogany, especially if the wood is not barked, stained, or treated, are the most common to be damaged.
You can suspect having such unusual neighbors by the following signs:
- even rounded holes with yellow spots in the wood;
- heaps of sawdust;
- “swarming” of bees around;
- insects enter their burrows or fly out of them.
So what shall you do with it? Further are given step-by-step instructions. Carpenter bee traps do not always work, and the solution must be environmentally friendly, humane and safe. This option is just what you need.
DIY Citrus Carpenter Bee Repellent
Why carpenter bees don’t like strong smells, and what smells do carpenter bees hate?
Insects do not tolerate strong and pungent odors, this is especially true for carpenter bees that feed on wood and have no need in odors as a guide to collect pollen.
Such smells are a signal of danger and, respectively, repel the bees. Garlic, cinnamon, almond, geranium, tomato, alcohol, gasoline, and vinegar work effectively. The most effective and safe, as practice shows, is a citrus oil spray for carpenter bees.
How to make and use it:
1. First, let’s prepare everything necessary. We will need water and citrus fruits (lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, tangerine, kumquat) and salt. Yes, your slice of lemon lying around in the fridge will do. You may as well use only one kind of fruit, but I prefer to mix. As you can see, the ingredients are very simple and natural. They can be found everywhere, and the remedy will not cause harm to others. The quantity is determined at our discretion or according to the possibilities. The more concentrated the remedy we prepare, the more effectively it will work.
2. Citrus fruits should be washed in cold water and cut for convenience.
3. Next, carefully squeeze the juice into a separate bowl. We will add it later to our spray.
4. Now we should cut the peel and pulp, or rather its remains, as finely as possible (so the fruit will release more essential oils). Then put it all in a saucepan filled with cold salty water. You can also add a few cloves of garlic if you like.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 15 minutes.
6. Remove the pot from the heat, cover with a lid and let it cool completely.
7. In the meantime, add essential oils (optional) of citronella, geranium, lemongrass, and mint to the juice. Сitrus oil for carpenter bees is really a strong repellent, so it’s highly recommended to include them too. Here you can also use only 1 essential oil or a combination. Even a few drops are enough.
8. When our broth has cooled, you need to strain it. This way it will be more convenient to spray the product during processing. Waste can then be composted and also used effectively as fertilizer.
9. Mix juice with oils and broth. Pour it into a spray bottle. Voila! We are ready to fight uninvited guests in the garden.
Now let’s talk about the processing itself. You need to properly prepare for it. The most efficient time for processing is during the daytime since the carpenter bees are usually not in the nest during this period. Watch the nest. Pick up the moment when the insects flew out.
Thoroughly treat all wooden surfaces and the surrounding area, such as the lawn. While spraying, pay special attention to cracks in the wood sheet, if any. Carpenter bees look for cracks that will make their entrances less visible to woodpeckers, so they prefer to populate such wood.
Insects may return, so treatment should be carried out every year at least several times during the active season.
N.B. A little about safety.
- When preparing the spray, keep in mind that odors are quite strong, and if you cannot tolerate them, take care of good ventilation in the room. Do not use the product or any of its ingredients if you are allergic.
- The tool is safe and environmentally friendly, but make sure that it does not fall into the hands of children.
- In pets, the product may cause discomfort, although it is safe.
FAQ
Does orange oil repel carpenter bees?
Yes, it only repels but causes no harm. Any strong odors for these insects are an indicator of danger. Accordingly, bees avoid such places and objects for safety reasons.
What smell attracts carpenter bees?
Earthy, wooden smells and sweat. These are smells reminiscent of their natural habitat or food source. They signal that carpenter bees could feel comfortable here and attract insects.
Is orange oil safe for bees?
Yes, it isn’t harmful. Citrus oils do not cause discomfort or problems for bees because they are a natural component. Due to its pungent odor, the components of the spray only repel insects.
How to Safely Deal With Carpenter Bees
I shared the safe way to solve a problem that is quite relevant in the warm season. Insects often coexist with people in the modern world. Unfortunately, this is not always comfortable and leads to certain difficulties.
Our main task is to minimize the harm from such coexistence for both parties. Besides, the pleasant smell of citrus is not so bad, don’t you think? Would it be interesting for you to try such spray?
Also read:
References:
- Carpenter Bees (United States Department of Agriculture)
  https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/carpenter_bees.shtml
- Get Rid of Carpenter Bees? Yes, Please! (Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University)
  https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/43827/carpenter-bees-FS-NYSIPM.pdf?sequence=1
- Carpenter Bees (NC State University)
  https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/carpenter-bees
2022-04-26