What if a simple bowl could offer you protection against bedbug bites while you sleep? This idea may seem far-fetched, but it comes from the highly respected University of Florida. These little parasites, sneaking everywhere, whether in our handbags or in our cars, patiently wait until we sleep to bite us. So how to get rid of it? In July 2023, ANSES published a report recommending several approaches in the event of an infestation. But are there techniques to protect ourselves from some of these insects and prevent them from biting us while we sleep? Léna Polin, entomologist, answers this question in an interview given to our colleagues at Current wife.
How to prevent bedbugs from getting into our bed?
Our colleagues Zélie and Louise were able to interview Léna Polin, an entomologist who is very present on social networks, to discuss bedbugs. The insect specialist delivered this surprising technique, to say the least, but within everyone’s reach, which consists of trapping bedbugs to prevent them from entering our bed, biting us and infesting our mattress.
The expert explains that the little animals “to climb into bed and prick us, […] will try to go through the feet of the bed“, because they will not be able to jump as high, especially if they are tired and have not fed for some time. We will therefore serve as bait, the researcher laughs, but for a good cause!
The bowl technique as a bedbug trap
Léna Polin continues, “to climb into the bed and to sting us, they will try to pass through the feet of the bed” and this is where the trap operates. She explains: “the bowl trick consists of placing a bowl (or a container) under each leg of its bed: the outer face of the container must be rough and the inner face smooth, because bed bugs are good climbersbut only on a rough surface“. This way, they will find themselves trapped inside the bowl and will not be able to come and bite you.
How to reproduce this technique at home?
Commercially (especially online) bowls of this type exist, with a rough outer wall and a smooth inner wall, which clip or insert directly around the legs of your bed. But you still need to have a bed with standard dimensions. To adapt this trap to the home, again the expert provides good advice. As seen in this video posted by the University of Florida on Youtubesimply create the trap yourself with two plastic boxes (food storage box type), painter’s tape and baby powder, liquid or gun glue.
Get two containers, one smaller and one larger. Glue the small plastic container into the larger one. Cover the outside of the large one with painter’s tape, which has a rough exterior appearance. Then brush the inside of the large container with talcum powder. Position your trap at the foot of your bed. Then that’s it.
As Léna Polin concludes, “this technique allows you to “get rid of” and attract bedbugs that are on the floor, but unfortunately not those that have already infested the mattress or sheets”; moreover, “no need for bait, the bait is is ourselves“.
With that, have a good night!