We’re not pulling your leg, although it may sound like it! Recently, there was a pest control-related story making the news rounds about a study reported in the Journal of Medical Entomology that suggested bed bugs are drawn to some colors while being repulsed by others. Sound crazy? Read on to learn more, and you may be considering some new luggage and sheets for your West Palm Beach home!
As you may recall, the summer of 2010 brought a resurgence in bed bug infestations in major US cities. These obnoxious little pests invaded hotels, libraries, theatres and even department stores. Since their comeback, researchers have renewed attention on bed bugs and their behaviors, and potential ways to discourage them from moving into places we frequent.
An article found on livescience.com states that that for bed bugs, “the preference toward red and black was prevalent. ‘We originally thought the bedbugs might prefer red because blood is red and that's what they feed on,’ Corraine McNeill, assistant professor of biology at Union College in Lincoln NE said. ‘However, after doing the study, the main reason we think they preferred red colors is because bedbugs themselves appear red, so they go to these harborages because they want to be with other bedbugs, as they are known to exist in aggregations.’
For the study, the researched placed bed bugs in Petri dishes that had small, bug-sized tents made of papers of different colors. Considering that bed bugs spend the majority of their time hiding in cracks and crevices, it was no surprise that they immediately headed for the little paper shelters. The surprise was in their choice of the tents – they overwhelmingly chose the red and black papers over white, yellow and green shelters.
It is thought that their preference had to do their dark red colors, and they were seeking out a aggregation of other bed bugs. They tend to gather in groups, and they choose to go to colors where it appears where other bugs may already be.
While it may not be a 100% foolproof method of avoiding bed bugs in your home or suitcases, it may be worth trying lighter colored sheets and a bright yellow suitcase. Bonus: you’ll never have any trouble spotting your luggage on the baggage carousel again!
If you suspect you already have a problem with bed bugs in your home, don’t delay! Ambassador delivers state of the art methods in bed bugs treatment as well as preventative services to stop bed bugs before they start. Call us at 866-632-0088 for your Free On-Site Pest Inspection and Service Estimate. 100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed! We care about our pest control customers, and have been serving the West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Stuart, Palm City and Wellington areas for over 25 years.
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