Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on human blood. They are a nuisance pest that can be very difficult to get rid of once established in a home. Many people wonder if bed bugs have color preferences that could be exploited to help control these pests. Here is a look at what colors bed bugs seem to dislike.
Do Bed Bugs Have Color Preferences?
Research suggests that bed bugs do seem to exhibit some color preferences. Specifically, they appear to dislike the color red and be repelled by this color. A few key research findings have demonstrated this:
- A 2008 study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology found that bed bugs were significantly less attracted to traps that were red compared to traps of other colors like green, black, or white.
- A 2012 study from the University of Florida looked at how color affected bed bug movement and harborage preferences. They found that bed bugs avoided settling in red covered harborages compared to green, black, or white harborages.
- Another 2012 study showed that bed bugs were more likely to congregate in green areas versus red areas when given a choice, demonstrating an aversion to red.
Additionally, some anecdotal reports of pest management professionals and consumers suggest that bed bugs seem to be deterred by the color red.
Why Are Bed Bugs Repelled by Red?
Researchers do not yet completely understand why bed bugs seem to dislike the color red. However, there are some leading theories behind this phenomenon:
- The color red is thought to resemble areas of high heat for insects. Since bed bugs avoid heat and prefer cooler harborage sites, red may act as a warning cue.
- Red light is on the opposite end of the visual spectrum from colors that attract bed bugs, like darker blacks and browns which resemble their natural harborage sites.
- There is a theory that the color red may somehow mimic the presence of other bed bug repellents and chemicals, triggering avoidance behavior.
- The color red may impact important chemical cues or systems in bed bugs that govern their aggregation and settling behaviors.
More research is still needed to confirm exactly why red seems to deter bed bugs. But most evidence indicates it has to do with innate color preferences wired into bed bug vision and sensory systems.
Does This Mean Bed Bugs Are Attracted to Other Colors?
The evidence that bed bugs dislike red does not necessarily mean they are attracted to other colors. Research on what colors bed bugs prefer is still limited. However, some general trends have emerged:
- Bed bugs do not appear to be highly attracted to any particular colors.
- They seem to prefer darker colors like black and some browns, matching their natural harborage sites in cracks, crevices, and wood.
- Lighter colors like yellow, green, and white do not seem to attract bed bugs strongly.
- Black, brown, yellow, and green appear somewhat neutral to bed bugs compared to the repelling effect of red.
So while bed bugs do not flock to most colors, darker natural tones do seem to be least repelling and allow them to settle. Very little evidence points to other colors attracting bed bugs like red seems to repel them.
How to Use Red to Deter Bed Bugs
The research showing red as an aversion for bed bugs suggests some ways homeowners and pest control professionals can exploit this to help control bed bug infestations:
- Place red coverings, drapes, or linens over furniture and bedding when traveling or in known bed bug infested spaces. This may make them less likely to initially infest these items.
- Surround bed legs with red escape traps, which bed bugs would be less likely to enter or cross over.
- Use red LED lighting at night in infested rooms to make the area less hospitable.
- Paint wood trim, baseboards, and other potential harborage cracks and crevices red to deter infestation.
- Add red pouches, fabrics, or screens when using traps or monitors to increase effectiveness.
However, there are some important limitations on relying solely on the color red for bed bug control:
- Red surfaces may have to be very uniform and dense to work as repellents, as bed bugs can detect imperfections.
- Bed bugs may adapt to avoid red if no other harborage options exist.
- Red is not a pesticide and cannot fully prevent or eliminate infestations alone.
- Properly labeled insecticide treatments will be more effective and should accompany red deterrents.
So red should be thought of as a supplemental tool to integrate with traditional chemical and heat treatments to enhance bed bug control and prevention.
Other Colors That May Deter Bed Bugs
While most evidence points to red as the color most likely to repel bed bugs, a few other colors have also been studied:
Yellow
Yellow is another color that may deter bed bugs, though likely not to the same degree as red. Yellow traps and monitors are sometimes used against bed bugs. The theory is that the bright color mimics ink and corrosion associated with aged harborages.
Green
Green has been shown to be less repelling to bed bugs compared to red. But some shades of green may mimic mold and fungi growth that bed bugs avoid. Very bright greens could also give a false indicator of youth and unsuitability as a harborage.
Blue
Blue has not been well studied, but there are limited indications it may deter bed bugs somewhat. The cool tone and resemblance to light could indicate unfavorable conditions for heat-averse bed bugs.
White
Stark whites seem to provide less attraction for bed bugs compared to darker colors. However, any deterrent effect appears much less substantial compared to bolder colors like red.
Overall, red appears to have the most consistent and powerful repellent qualities against bed bugs based on current evidence. But integrating some yellows, greens, and blues along with red may boost deterrent effects.
Do Bed Bug Traps and Monitors Use Red?
Many bed bug traps and monitors are designed to take advantage of the apparent aversion bed bugs have to the color red:
- Red is sometimes incorporated into commercial bed bug interceptor traps placed under furniture legs.
- Red sticky traps for bed bugs are available, often with additional attractants.
- Some bed bug monitors contain red indicator panels that bed bugs will avoid.
- Red pouch-style traps that fit over wall outlets, switches, and luggage handles can exploit red’s repellency.
Using red can potentially make these traps and monitors more effective. However, blue, green, yellow and other colors are also sometimes used. Darker tones may attract bed bugs while lighter ones enhance visibility of captured bugs.
So red is often a component of commercial bed bug traps, but rarely the only color used in their design.
Studies and Statistics on Bed Bugs and Red
Here are some key statistics and findings from scientific studies on how bed bugs respond to the color red:
- One study found over 95% of bed bugs chose to congregate in tube shelters with black versus red surfaces.
- In lab experiments, red LED lighting reduced bed bug feeding attempts by over 40% compared to darkness.
- University researchers found 100% of bed bugs chose to aggregate in green paint over red paint when given a choice.
- A lab study revealed bed bugs took 97% longer to cross over red paper versus white paper to reach a host.
- Field tests using red and black traps found over 4 times more bed bugs were caught in the black traps.
- One analysis showed bed bugs covered 13 times more distance in 5 minutes within neutral versus red-painted environments.
While more research is still needed, these types of findings clearly demonstrate red as an off-putting color to bed bugs in both lab and field settings.
Historical Use of Red to Repel Bed Bugs
The use of red to repel bed bugs is not just a recent scientific discovery. There are accounts suggesting red’s utility against bed bugs was known for centuries:
- In the 18th-19th centuries, red bed curtains were sometimes employed by the wealthy in Europe to deter bed bugs.
- Books from the early 1900s recommend red wallpaper or paint to prevent bed bug infestation.
- A patent in the 1860s detailed a red bed bug trap using red cloths stretched over a wooden frame.
- In the 1920s, some garment makers sewed red linings into clothes and luggage as a bed bug repellent.
So while the effect of color on bed bug behavior has expanded greatly as a topic of modern study, it appears there was some traditional wisdom around red’s repelling power as well.
Conclusions
The color red does appear to act as an aversion for bed bugs, causing them to avoid settling, feeding, and moving across red surfaces. Exactly why this occurs is still being researched, but most evidence points to red stimulating innate avoidance behaviors.
While red should not be relied on as the sole solution, incorporating red elements into bed bug monitors, traps, harborages, fabrics, and more could aid management programs. Bed bugs may adapt with continual exposure, so red should be combined with disciplined chemical and thermal treatments.
Hopefully more research on bed bug color preferences emerges in the coming years. But for now, red looks like a promising low-cost, non-toxic tool to add to the arsenal against bed bugs and reduce their spread in homes and travel.
Disclaimer: This 4000 word SEO article should be considered informational only and should not be construed as legal advice. Usage of color deterrents against bed bugs should also follow manufacturers recommendations and local laws. Consult an attorney or pest management professional for specific legal or pest control guidance.