Bed bug interceptors are relatively simple tools designed to catch bed bugs before they can climb furniture. They can be used either under furniture legs, or anywhere in a room where bed bugs are suspected to be present.
Bed bug feet. Note the lack of padding under the tarsus or between the claws. Insects that are highly adept at clinging to or climbing smooth vertical surfaces typically have sticky pads that act like suction cups. Bed bug feet are designed for climbing rough surfaces like the walls of a cave, or modern house. Electron micrograph by Adam Nadel. http://adamnadel.com/
The principle behind the effectiveness of bed bug interceptors, has to do with the feet of bed bugs. Unlike cockroach or house fly feet, which have large pads capable of sticking to nearly any surface, bed bugs must rely solely on their tiny claws to grab surfaces and climb. Unfortunately for bed bugs these claws are not very effective on slick, vertical surfaces, like the plastic inside walls of interceptor cups. Even plastic totes can be a good deterrent to bed bugs, a good idea when you must bring supplies into a heavily bed bug-infested account.
New designs for bed bug interceptor traps are coming on the market yearly. Some of the most popular include the ClimbUp Interceptor, BlackOut Detector and the SenSci Volcano. Be aware that these brands include traps of different sizes, colors and shape. Lures or sources of carbon dioxide (dry ice) may be used to enhance the catches of these traps.
A ClimbUp Interceptor trap with an insulated thermos placed in the center. When filled with dry ice, and opened slightly to release the CO2 slowly, a thermos jug like this will attract and catch bed bugs for several days.