The Color Preferences of Bed Bugs

The Color Preferences of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs have become a hug problem in the U.S. People all over the country go to some pretty extreme lengths to get rid of them. But, a new study suggests that it may be as easy as changing the color of your bed linens.

A new study led by Corraine McNeill from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska explored which colors bed bugs are more attracted to, which McNeill found develops as they age. The team set up tiny tents in petri dishes and studied which colors their bed bug subjects gravitated towards. They noticed that young bed bugs have less of a developed preference than older bed bugs. As they age bed bugs appear to develop a preference for the colors red and black. They are less than fond of the colors green, white, and yellow.

The researchers believe that the bed bugs gravitated towards black because it mimics darkness, something the nocturnal bugs naturally seek out. They concluded that they were drawn towards red because bed bugs are slightly red, making them think that more bed bugs are in the red linen. As bed bugs like to live in large groups, they would naturally be attracted to a place that would seem to have other bed bugs. Researchers believed they are repulsed by white, green, and yellow because these colors tend to be in exposed, well-lit areas.

Have you ever suffered a bed bug invasion? Would you consider changing the color of your bed linens if it meant you’d be safer from bed bugs?