One of the common signs of a bed bug infestation is a musty odor in areas where they are gathered together. Not only will the scent of the earth linger on any bed bugs which pass over it, but the powder will slowly eat away at the exoskeleton until the bed bug’s skin dehydrates, causing it to die. This powdery substance is often laid out in places where bed bugs or other insects travel, causing the particles to embed themselves in the bug’s exoskeleton. This is why common foods like lemons, oranges, and pepper are recommended for repelling bed bugs as well.īed bugs also hate the scent of diatomaceous earth. If a product contains the smells of mint, cinnamon, citrus, or any other spices, it can be used as a natural pesticide. Scents That Bed Bugs HateĪs you’ve seen already, many of the scents which irritate a bed bug’s senses come from compounds produced by plants. Combining garlic with a vinegar treatment is a great way to flush out bed bugs, though keep in mind that neither of them are effective ways to kill them. Insects have no way of filtering out the scent caused by allicin, and will therefore flee when they smell garlic in the air. (And is also responsible for garlic breath). ![]() This is the compound that gives garlic its trademark scent. Garlic cloves (along with related vegetables like onions) produce a compound called allicin, which is released whenever the plant is cut open. ![]() Garlic also repels bed bugs for the same reasons as mint and lavender (chemical compounds produced by the plant). In bed bugs, the scent of vinegar overwhelms their nervous system and corrodes protective chemicals along their exoskeletons, effectively drying them out. Vinegar is an acetic acid, which means that while it has very mild acidic properties, it contains a powerful scent and is still capable of corrosion. However, bed bugs hate vinegar for different reasons than they hate lavender or mint. Vinegar is very effective at repelling bed bugs. Therefore, bed bugs will react to the scent of Vicks the same way they would react to the scent of lavender. Menthol, like the aforementioned linalool, is naturally produced from mint plants. Most Vicks products include trace amounts of menthol as a primary ingredient. It is a waxy, crystalline substance that has a cooling and soothing effect when applied to the skin or mucous membranes. Menthol is an organic compound that is derived from the mint plant, particularly from peppermint and spearmint. If you’ve ever had a cold or dealt with some sort of congestion, you might have used Vicks VapoRub to feel a bit better. If the scent doesn’t outright kill these pests, it will drive them to flee their nest, leaving them exposed to any bed bug traps or other insecticides you have applied. Sprinkling lavender oil or spraying lavender scent in areas where bed bugs are hiding is useful, but not too powerful on its own. ![]() This is why bed bugs, as well as other insects and arachnids, also hate the following scents: This is naturally produced by over 200 species of plants and fruits, but it’s also commercially used in many pesticides. Lavender contains a compound called linalool. It’s commonly used in aromatherapy to create a soothing atmosphere, and is rumored to help the body recover from mild pain.įor bed bugs, lavender is no different from the myriad of other scents and chemicals used to eradicate them. To humans: lavender has a pleasant scent.
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