The Best Bed Bug Traps: Which Ones Really Work -2024

****Updated for 2024****

Bed Bug Traps: Which Color Interceptor Should I Buy?

Study Shows that Bed Bugs have a Color Preference! The black interceptor traps are better at catching one than the white ones.

Bed bugs prefer to feed at night, so they will be moving around while you are sleeping. One way of catching them is to use the pitfall type of bed bug traps like the bed bug interceptor; it goes under your bedposts. 

6 Benefits of Using a Bed Bug Trap

This DIY pest control site has plenty of bed bug traps to place around your apartment, home, or business. The interceptor cups are a great monitoring tool. Using a monitoring tool is essential when you are worried about bed bugs.

• For proof of a bed bug issue to show to your landlord.  

• Early detection of bed bugs, they will help you determine some early signs of bed bugs.

• To get confirmation on what is biting you. 

• They help with monitoring after treatment to make sure there are no lingering bed bugs.

• You live in a building with a history of bed bugs and want to monitor your apartment for any bed bug activity.

• Do you think you got bed bug bites from a hotel? Order some traps to help you monitor at home.

• You frequently ride in Ubers or Lyfts and sit down in public areas.

*This post may contain affiliate links, if you purchase anything through the links, it will help offset the costs of running this website and contribute to our scholarship fund*

In NYC, if the building has three or more units, then it is the landlord’s responsibility to eradicate the bed bugs. You can read all about the laws in NYC regarding bed bugs here.

Do Bed Bug Traps Work?

The answer is yes, but there are many different types of bed bug traps and the level of effectiveness can vary. We like the interceptor cup, because it is a passive monitor, which can help you catch wandering bed bugs. Another type of trap that has been shown to be effective is the use of a pheromone trap.

Pheromones are chemicals that are emitted by an animal to attract mates. In the case of bed bugs, they use pheromones to attract both male and female bed bugs. By emitting these chemicals, bed bug traps can lure bed bugs into the trap where they will then be unable to escape. Studies have shown that pheromone traps can be up to 90% effective in reducing and monitoring bed bug populations.

Other types of traps that have been shown to be effective include those that use heat or CO2 to attract bed bugs. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to controlling bed bugs, using traps is a valuable tool in the fight against these pests.

5 of The Best Bed Bug Traps

You can place traps and monitors in all the common places where bed bugs hide.

1. Black Bed Bug Interceptor Cups

Scientific research found that the black interceptor for bed bugs works better at trapping them than the white one. If you want to read about the differences in the black interceptor versus the white one, we link to the article below. Bed bugs happen to be more attracted to the colors black and red. Bed bug monitors and traps will help you find bed bugs during the day.

Can this bed bug trap work in a car?

Yes, put these on the floor and trunk of your car. Since bed bugs can live in cars, it’s important to monitor your car if you have an active bed bug issue at home.

Does this bed bug trap work with a platform bed?

Yes, place them around the perimeter of your platform bed, along the wall, or anywhere in your room. Remember that the more you put out, the better the chances of catching one are.

Manufacturers Specs

• LxWxH 6.7 inches x 6.1 inches x 6.1 inches
• Eight bed bug traps
• It comes in a variety of sizes depending on the size of your furniture legs.
• Color: Black

What We Like

• They do trap bed bugs!
• Bed bug interceptor traps can offer peace of mind.
• These traps are sturdier than some other models.
• The dark color is a bit more discreet.
• The bed bug interceptor will even fit large couch legs.

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t arrive in a discreet box.
• The black color may make it harder to see a bed bug inside the trap. 
• You need a bright flashlight to see a bed bug, especially if your room doesn’t get enough bright light.
• They are not anti-slip, so if your bed tends to shift around, you may have to adjust your bed constantly.
• If you are using them under bedposts, you have to lift the furniture to install them.

2. TruGuard X Bed Bug Interceptors (White)

These white bed bug interceptor traps work in the same way the black ones do above. As with the black ones, they are not necessarily traps but more of a monitoring system. 

They are a pitfall type of trap that you place anywhere in your home. If you are worried about bed bugs, place these all along the walls and the bedposts and couch posts. 

The more interceptors for bed bugs that you put out will only increase the chances of catching a bed bug. Keep in mind that they are not meant to catch and trap all of the bed bugs; instead, they are suitable for monitoring. 

Often people think you cant use these unless your bed has legs. However, this is false information. In NYC, they have a certification to become a bed bug specialist each year.

During the last bed bug specialist certification, I learned that the interceptor cups work anywhere, not just on posts. So, for example, you can place them all around a bed if you have a captain’s bed frame with a flat bottom. 

Can this bed bug trap work in a car?

Yes, this bed bug trap will work in a car.

Does this bed bug trap work with a platform bed?

Yes, you do not need bedposts for this bed bug trap to work. 

Manufacturers Specs

• It comes in 2 sizes: 4 x 4 inches and 7 x 5 inches
• Thick Base
• Color: white

What We Like

• They offer 24/7 customer support.
• The white bed bug interceptor traps allow you to see inside the well more straightforwardly than black ones.
• Having a thick base that can handle heavy furniture is helpful.

What We Don’t Like

• If you are using them under posts, you have to lift the furniture to install them.
• If you have large bedposts close to 4 X 4, they might not fit.

3. SenSci ActivVolcano Bed Bug Monitor and Lure – Bed Bug Pheromone Traps

The volcano traps are a type of bed bug lure traps. Use these active monitor traps in a room where you don’t sleep. Keep in mind that you don’t want to compete with the lure and bed bug pheromone trap. Another great time to use them is if you suspect bed bugs but are going away.

Set 6 of these out in the area where you think you might have a bed bug issue. Then as soon as you get back from your trip, check each one.

Make sure to keep the lure bed bug trap away from kids and pets. Although it is considered low-toxicity, it is not advisable to have a pet eat this.

Can this bed bug trap work in a car?

Yes, especially if you do not drive your car overnight, bed bugs like to come out at nighttime to feed. So put one under each seat, and place a few more anywhere within your vehicle. For greater chances of catching one, I would put 4-6 in a standard car.

Does this bed bug trap work with a platform bed?

Yes, you can place a few of these around your platform bed; if the bed has drawers, I would also put one inside each drawer.

Manufacturers Specs

• Pack of 4.
• Plastic volcano receptacle.
• Lure
• 3.7 x 3.43 x 3.35 inches
• It lasts for four months

What We Like

– They are discreet bed bug lure traps. Nobody will notice them in your bedroom.

– They work! Many of my clients for my NYC bed bug inspection business, Doctor Sniffs, have sent me photos of these traps catching a bed bug. 

– The size is excellent; these bed bug pheromone traps can fit in small places. 

– Can be a great asset for a landlord to place out in a vacant apartment. 

– The company is available for support via email.

What We Don’t Like

• Expensive; to have success, you need to put out a lot of these. 

• They take time to work. One person caught a bed bug after the traps were out for six weeks.

• The bed bug pheromone trap will compete with the actual human in the room. 

4. Trapper Bed Bug Glue Trap

A sticky trap for bed bug detection does not work as well as the pitfall type of traps. One reason is that bed bugs have been known to pull their leg off the sticky part and get free.

Keeping that in mind,  I would not disqualify these traps as part of your integrated monitoring system. If you are at the stage where you are trying to figure out exactly what is biting you, they can help. We wrote an entire article on how to use sticky traps for bed bugs.

Furthermore a sticky trap can help you catch a bird mite, Bethylidae parasitoid wasp, or carpet beetle. These three, in particular, have all been known to produce “bed bug-like” reactions on people’s skin.

Can this bed bug trap work in a car?

Yes, sticky traps will work in a car; just make sure to keep them folded into the triangular shape so debris doesn’t get caught on the sticky part.

Does this bed bug trap work with a platform bed?

Sticky traps for bed bugs can work just about anywhere. Just as we mentioned with the other pitfalls, the more you put out, the better. You are hoping that a wandering bed bug will get caught on it, so placing them all around the platform bed is the best course of action.

Manufacturers Specs

• 9.15 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches

What We Like

• Bed bug sticky traps are easy to use.

• Multi-purpose. You can catch many other bugs with this, not just bed bugs, which 

will allow you to monitor and see just what type of pest you have.

What We Don’t Like

• Do not use these if you have pets unless you put them in an inaccessible area where the pet does not go.

• The bed bug might be able to get off of the sticky trap.

• The sticky substance is hard to remove from the furniture or your hands.

5. Bed Bug Plug

Using this active bed bug lure will help with early monitoring for bed bugs. The company has conducted many tests to see the efficacy of their machine. One research study was at the Rutgers University entomology department. 

Not many other bed bug traps are backed by laboratory testing. In their laboratory test you can also see how the sticky traps did not catch any bed bugs.

You can check out their website here: https://bedbugplug.com/ for pricing, FAQs, and information.

What We Like

• Tested by entomologists.

• Attracts bed bugs with heat.
• You can mount it on a mattress, headboard, or bed frame.

• Customers say that it catches bed bugs.

• Great to use after a bed bug extermination for monitoring.

What We Don’t Like

• Must have a outlet close by to plug it in.

• You need to check it weekly to see if it caught any bed bugs.

• You’ll have to replace the cartridges every 3-4 months, to ensure optimal stickiness.

What are bed bug interceptor traps?

Pitfall type of bed bug traps are the most typical early detection bed bug monitor, and you can buy them anywhere.  People use this type of trap for bed bugs to monitor bed bug activity. These traps will not wipe out the bed bug population in your home; instead, they will help you catch the bed bugs.

In addition, trapping a few bed bugs inside of the bed bug leg trap will allow you to know for sure whether or not you have them. Knowing for sure you do or don’t have bed bugs is especially important if you are among those who do not react to their bites. 

Do bed bug interceptors work?

Yes, Even the NYPMA (New York Pest Management Association) recommends them for monitoring. The NYPMA certifies bed bug specialists all over NYC each year. They ran some tests with the interceptors, and they did determine that they do indeed work and catch bed bugs. As long as you keep the interceptor clean and free from debris, it will work. 

Once a bed bug crawls in, it won’t be able to crawl back out. Although please note that no interceptor or trap is a 100% guarantee that a bed bug will creep in, the more traps you put out, the more chances you have for catching a bed bug infestation in its early stages. If you went traveling or feel you were exposed to bed bugs the best thing to do is buy one of the bed bug heaters, so you can heat your luggage or clothing.

How do bed bug interceptors work?

They work by creating a deep well, and the caught bed bug cannot crawl out. So if a bed bug is crawling towards the bed, you will find one in the outside ring. On the other hand, if one crawls from the bedpost down the, you will find it in the inside circle.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs From Getting on Your Bed?

One of the best ways to prevent bed bugs from getting on your bed is to use interceptor traps on your bed posts. Interceptor traps are small devices that sit on the legs of your bed and trap bed bugs as they try to climb up.

However if you have a captains bed (without bed posts) then it will be hard to prevent the bugs from crawling onto your bed. Another good way to prevent bed bugs from climbing onto your bed is to move your bed away from the walls.

Do glue traps catch bed bugs?

Yes and no. Glue traps may catch a bed bug, but the bed bug will be able to get free more often than not. A video going around our pest control industry highlighted a bed bug freeing itself from a sticky trap. No bed bug traps are guaranteed to work 100% even you place them in a known bed bug-infested apartment.

Therefore if you put out a variety: bed bug interceptor cups,  sticky traps, and other monitors, you are more likely to catch a bed bug. 

Using a variety of traps will increase the likelihood that a bed bug crawls into one.

Do bed bugs bite everyone?

Yes, they bite humans and other mammals but did you know that 20-30% of people don’t react to bed bug bites? The University of Kentucky did a comprehensive study in 2009 that surveyed 474 individuals with known bed bug infestations. The study found that 30% of those surveyed did not have any skin reactions. The study also found that more people over the age of 65 reported -no bites.

Why Do You Need a Bed Bug Trap?

Using a few different types of monitoring bed bug traps is essential for those people who don’t show a skin reaction. There will not be any itchy red marks to clue you into the possibility of bed bugs being present,  and knowing that bed bugs have a color preference can help you when choosing a bed bug trap or monitor.

What are the bed bug traps as seen on the Shark Tank show?

The bed bug traps, as seen on Shark Tank, are Buggy Beds. One shortcoming is that scientists didn’t test them within bed bug-infested homes. For this reason, we would not recommend using these traps unless they can start to show proof that they will trap bed bugs. Unfortunately, people with a known bed bug issue say that the traps don’t have any bugs in them despite their bed having visible bed bugs.

The Different Types of Bed Bug Traps

Black ClimbUp Interceptor traps 

These passive monitoring devices resemble bowls with tall walls that the bed bugs fall into and can’t get out. You put the bed bug traps under a bed, couch post, or just along a wall.

If you find a bed bug in the bed bug trap’s outer ring, you know it came from the room towards the bed. If you find one in the inner circle, then it went from the bed towards the floor. 

White Bed Bug Interceptors

Most people use the white interceptor traps designed as a pitfall type of bed bug trap. Many people use this type of bed bug trap on bedposts and couches. As we mentioned above, you can also place it just about anywhere.

You can even put 4 of them in a closet; there is a good chance that a bed bug will crawl in and not be able to get back out. 

You need to clean these bedbug traps out every so often. If a piece of dust, debris, or pet hair gets in, it can create a bridge for the bed bug to climb back out.

Fiber Trap for Bed Bugs

Fiber traps are one of the newer bed bug traps on the market. They are a simple way to monitor for bed bugs. A person who dealt with a bad bed bug infestation came up with the Fiber Trap brand.  The founder wanted to find a way to combat bed bugs and develop a  bed bug trap to help more people fight bed bugs.

Many pest control technicians and scientists in the bed bug industry put this Fiber Trap out in known bed bug-infested apartments.  They did find that the bed bug fiber trap worked.

Active Lure

There is one brand: ScensiActive Volcano, which works by luring bed bugs into the pitfall trap. The lure is a chemical pheromone that attracts the bugs, just like any other monitors; these may or may not work. On the other hand, there is the Bed Bug Plug which lures the bugs into a chamber with a sticky trap.

Whether active or passive, each monitor has a 50/50 chance that the bed bug will go into it. Even if you have an active bed bug issue, there is no guarantee that a bug will go into this volcano trap. Keep in mind that the active lures do work better when they are in a room without people.

Bed Bug CO2 Trap

A Co2 trap is an active monitoring device for bed bugs. They are great for monitoring bed bug activity in a closet, a vacant apartment, or a room where nobody sleeps. You don’t want to place them in a room where they are sleeping because they compete with the CO2 trap. You want the bug only to have one choice.

Black versus white interceptor traps

Are you wondering if you should get the bed bug interceptor black or white? After reading this study, you will want to go with the black traps. ”Bed bugs may use a combination of vision, mechanoreception, and chemoreception to locate hosts and seek harborages.” Citation: Singh N, Wang C, Cooper R (2015) Role of Vision and Mechanoreception in Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius L. Behavior. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0118855. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118855

Furthermore, this scientific study shows that bed bugs prefer black and red over white and yellow. The study used the ClimbUp interceptor traps to create a few different harborage areas that were all colored differently.

This scientific study shows that bed bugs prefer the colors black and red over white and yellow.

In this study on bed bug traps, scientists collected bed bugs from infested apartments in NJ. The bed bugs did not feed for a week before the experiment. Underneath a stool, the bed bugs moved freely around.

The seat had Co2 inside of cups on top (to mimic a human). In all cases, most bed bugs chose to move towards the red and black hiding spots (made out of paper). Black and red were significantly more attractive than the other colors tested.

The experts say that the bed bugs prefer the red and dark-colored harborages because they mistake them for other bed bugs, and they prefer to cluster together. Bed bugs are not social insects like ants or bees; they don’t live in colonies and work together, but some congregate in clusters.

If you want to buy an interceptor type of bed bug trap for your bed legs, I will advise you to go with the black over the white ones. I don’t think they make red ones at this time. The white ones are easier to see the trapped bugs, but the black ones will attract more.

You can also buy bed bug traps that are black around the outside and have a white cup in the middle. If you already have white interceptor bed bug traps, just paint the outside rim black with a marker. Just make sure you have a bright flashlight to shine on the interceptor traps every other day to see if they caught any bed bugs!