Closed Collect-a-bug Monitor

Open Collect-a-bug Monitor

1.) Insert two closed collect-a-bug monitors at the head of the bed between the box spring and mattress 12-18 inches apart.

2.) Monitors MUST be installed with the corrugations facing upwards.

3.) Ensure that the corrugations are exposed (sticking out) from the bed. If a quarter inch of wood can be seen that ensures is sticking out far enough.

4.) The bed and monitor must not touch the wall. If needed, the cardboard can be bent down to ensure the openings in the cardboard are not blocked by the mattress

5.) If the bed is in a corner move one monitor to be as close to the corner as possible

6.) If the bed has a split box spring ensure that one monitor is directly on the split

 7.) If you do not have a box spring and your mattress is resting on a slatted bed, fold the creased section of the cardboard under the monitor. Then put the monitor between the slats and your mattress as close to the head of the bed as possible. Ensure that at least a sliver of the wood is exposed, sticking out from underneath the mattress at the head of the bed.

8.) If you do not have a box spring and your mattress rests on the floor, the best solution is to get your mattress up off the floor.  Installing the monitors at the head of the bed as though you had a box spring is not recommended as the effectiveness of the collect-a-bug declines as more bugs will seek baseboards and other areas off the bed when the mattress is directly on the floor.  

 1.) The bed must be slept in regularly and the monitors must have been installed correctly. Bed bugs do not feed every day so waiting a week or two may be required to confirm the presence or absence of bed bugs.   

 2.) To check for bed bugs move the mattress to expose the monitors. Remove the monitors carefully, keeping the lid closed and bring them to a bright location.

3.) Open the lids and inspect the monitors for bed bugs.  Bugs may be in the corrugations or on the wooden lid, or even stuck to the tape. See below for photos of bed bugs in monitors.

 4.) If spotting is seen on the monitor it may be bed bug related . To test,  wet your finger and try to smear suspicious spots. Spotting that smears black or red is evidence of bed bugs. Spots that do not smear may be coloring inherent in the cardboard and  are not evidence of bed bugs. (Click link below for a video of smearing a spot.)

Bed Bug Monitor with a couple Bed Bugs

Bed Bug Monitor with lots of Bed Bugs