Can You Duct Tape Bed Bugs? Answered (2023)

Last Updated on January 5, 2023 by Alene Schill

The leading problem with dealing with a bed bug infestation is the elusiveness and hiding nature of the pests. It can be a limitless battle of safeguarding yourself from bed bugs that hide in the dark, wanting to suck your blood quickly but quietly.

While trapping to prevent bugs is an excellent technique, does duct tape work on bed bugs? Let’s find out how it works and if it effectively stops a bed bug infestation. 

Duct Tape for Bed Bugs- Does It Work? 

One of the most suggested ways to get rid of bed bugs is using duct tape as a trap. Since chemicals, like insecticides or pesticides, can harm the environment, using duct tape is the way for some homeowners. 

Bugs are too lightweight to stick on duct tape easily. You can successfully trap bed bugs using duct tape, but it is not a long-term solution. 

Over time, other bed bugs may likely see something’s wrong and avoid the tape to find another way to get into your things. 

How to Use It? 

Trap Bed Bugs (Jam it in Wall Cracks and Crevices)

Since bed bugs love to hide in wall cracks and crevices, better trap them using duct tape. Place the tape in the gaps or crevices, and once the bugs crawl to head outside their hiding spot, they will stick to the tape and be trapped. 

You can remove the tape after a couple of hours, see the attached bugs, and then discard it immediately. But why do bed bugs crawl on ceilings and walls?

Pick Up Bed Bugs and its Eggs 

Look for areas where there are bed bugs. When you see the tiny pest crawling or hiding in these, you can use duct tape to pick them up. Include the eggs when picking up the bed bugs. Since duct tape is sticky, you can easily pick up the bed bugs and their eggs. 

Reduce Hiding Places 

Put duct tape over possible hiding places of bed bugs. You can leave duct tape on the seams of your mattress, which is their number one hiding spot. Also, you can leave duct tape on areas usually covered by paints or wallpaper, where bed bugs tend to hide and lay eggs. 

Read: Can Painting The Walls Kill Bed Bugs?

Seal Plastic Bags

Once you’re done removing the duct tape from the trapping spots, you need to gather them all and put them in a sealed plastic bag to prevent the bed bugs from crawling back again. 

You can use duct tape to lock the plastic bags to trap the bugs inside. Soon, bed bugs inside the plastic bag will die. But what really causes bed bugs?

Can Duct Tape Help Eliminate Bed Bugs?

Yes, but only temporarily. Using duct tape can help eliminate bed bugs. 

However,  it’s just a short-term remediation strategy and will not totally get rid of bed bugs in your place. While it can be effective, it requires a lot of effort and resources, yet you can’t be sure if you trapped all the bed bugs effectively.  

So, we suggest trying other alternatives like using pesticides [1], glue traps, bed bug interceptors, or consulting an expert exterminator to help you with your bed bug problem. 

FAQs

Can bed bugs climb duct tape?

It depends. There may be situations where some bed bugs can climb duct tape. For bed bugs that don’t get stuck to the tape, their lightness will allow them to continue moving to climb up the tape. There is no assurance that all bed bugs will stick to the tape.

Is duct tape a long-term solution for bed bug problems?

No, duct tape is not a long-term solution for bed bug problems. While it can be a temporary remediation strategy, it does not guarantee 100% effectiveness in keeping your place bug-free. Using duct tape to trap bed bugs can be effective at some point, but it’s unreliable overall. 

In Summary

You can use duct tape to eliminate bed bugs if you have nothing else to use. It will prevent bed bugs from climbing up your walls, furniture, and other things. 

However, it does not guarantee that it can trap all bed bugs as bugs can possibly climb on it even if it’s sticky. 

Also, bed bugs can be smart enough to avoid the tape and look for another way to reach their meal (blood). 

Reference:

1. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides/index.cfm