Hopefully you have never had to suffer from a bed bug infestation. But if you have, you know they tend to gather in a single place like this…

 

In the nest, you’ll find adults, babies – known as nymphs – and also the shed exoskeletons of growing insects. It may seem odd that these apparently useless entities would also be here but it seems they play an important role in helping bugs locate their home.

It’s all due to chemicals known as pheromones, which are contained within these lifeless shells. They attract the bugs letting them know where home happens to be.

Now a group of researchers have identified which pheromones attract the insects opening the door to a more effective trap.

I wrote about the study and what this could mean in the future in my Popular Science column, which I titled, A Sweet (Smelling) Bed Bug Control Option

Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to send me your thoughts below.