Scientists Have Discovered the Bed Bug's Greatest Fear
Gizmodo • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers at the University of California, Riverside discovered that bed bugs have a strong aversion to water, consistently avoiding wet surfaces in experiments.
- Juvenile bed bugs, or nymphs, were found to be about 60% quicker than adults at avoiding water, suggesting a heightened sensitivity to wet environments.
- The aversion likely stems from the risk of water blocking their spiracles, which are essential for breathing, potentially causing them to drown.
- This finding has practical implications for pest control, indicating that liquid-based insecticides may cause bed bugs to flee treated areas if not immediately lethal, complicating eradication efforts.
- Given bed bugs' increasing resistance to common insecticides, integrating knowledge of their water aversion could improve
