Before you purchase your next set of beautiful bed sheets, you may want to reconsider the color of them.
In an interesting but somewhat “humorous” article recently published in the “Journal of Medical Entomology,” researchers concluded through a variety of experiments concerning bed bugs that these little critters may actually prefer one color over another.
According to researchers, when bed bugs were given a choice of red, black, green or yellow color spots to hide in, the majority of the bed bugs seemed to flock over to the red and black colors. The yellow and green colors were hardly even an option.
What does this mean for us? Should we avoid decorating our homes with beautiful red and black colors? Should we avoid buying bed linens in certain colors? Is it possible that bed bugs actually do prefer some colors over others?
Don’t return your sheets yet! Experts say they don’t have enough information to prove that their conclusions are 100% accurate, but between you and me, I find this very interesting.
The purpose of the bed bug experiment was to see where bed bugs prefer to hide. The study showed that most bed bugs seemed to choose their hiding spots based on color when they were moving in light. Researchers concluded that because bed bugs are known to harbor in groups, and bed bugs have a reddish color appearance, they choose to flock to the red and black colors to hide and be with the other bugs. The brighter yellow and green areas may represent well-lit areas to the bed bugs.
Even though these findings are mostly assumptions, the conclusions do educate us a little more about the preferences of bed bugs and can possibly help us find better ways to control the bugs in the future. For now, here are some helpful tips about bed bugs that can put your mind at ease in your home:
Bed bugs do not spread diseases but they do bite and feed on your blood.
Adults bed bugs are flat, oval, and are a reddish brown color. Young bed bugs are smaller and lighter in color.
Bed bugs hide around and in beds, couches, chairs, cushions and curtains. They feed every 5 to 10 days but can also survive a year without eating.
Before bringing any secondhand furniture in your home, check it for signs of bed bugs.
Check mattresses periodically for holes and invest in protective mattress, box spring, and pillow casings.
Reduce clutter in your home. Vacuum with a HEPA filtered vacuum that is known to pick up dust, allergens, etc.
After traveling, unpack clothes by placing them directly into the washing machine. Use the hot water cycle to clean. Dry at a hot temperature in the dryer.
When traveling, place suitcase on luggage rack and not on the floor. Check mattress, curtains, and headboard for signs of bed bugs.
