Does Killing Bed Bugs Attract More Bugs?

If you’re trying to get rid of bed bugs, the last thing you want to do is attract more insects. 

However, many people wonder if killing off their bed bug problem will bring new bugs into their space. 

Thankfully, killing bed bugs will not attract more bugs. Other bed bugs are not interested in dead bed bugs, and it is doubtful that additional insects of different species will enter your home because of your previous bed bugs. 

Will Killing Bed Bugs Attract More Bed Bugs?

If you’ve ever killed an ant, you may have noticed that more ants tend to show up in that same spot afterward. 

Ants exhibit this behavior because of many species of ants inter their dead brethren into tombs in their nests. 

But, bed bugs do not bury their dead the same way ants do. 

They also do not eat dead bed bugs. 

This is why there is no reason that dead bed bugs will attract more bed bugs to your home. 

Will Killing Bed Bugs Attract Other Insects?

Killing bed bugs may attract other insects, but this is only likely to happen if the other insects are already in your home. 

Only certain other insects, such as spiders, ants, roaches, and centipedes, eat bed bugs. 

And some of these bugs, including ants, are scavengers who use their sense of smell to search for other insects, regardless of whether they are dead or alive. 

However, these other types of bugs’ senses of smell only extend so far. 

For instance, in the case of ants, most species can’t smell anything more than ten feet away. 

Thus, it is doubtful that dead bed bugs will attract more insects unless those bugs are already inside your home. 

Should I Kill Bed Bugs?

Yes, you should do everything you can to get rid of any bed bugs you find in your home, and the only true method of eradicating the problem and keeping bed bugs away for good is to kill them. 

It’s important to kill bed bugs in your home as quickly as possible since these insects can be detrimental to both your physical and mental health. 

Although bed bugs do not spread disease like other blood-sucking insects, they can cause other adverse medical symptoms. 

Most commonly, bed bug bites lead to itching and also cause stress. 

However, in more severe circumstances, bed bug bites can also cause infections, allergic reactions, and paranoia. 

To prevent these issues from arising, you need to work diligently to eliminate all of the bed bugs from your home as soon as you notice any signs of their presence. 

What If Dead Bed Bugs Attract Other Insects?

If after or during the extermination of your bed bugs, you find that other insects have infested your home, don’t panic. 

Most other insects aren’t as hard to get rid of as bed bugs. 

However, it is important to find out the proper way to eliminate any other types of insects you find in your home. 

This is why I’ve created a quick and useful guide on other kinds of bug species you may discover inside your home after a bed bug infestation, and effective methods you can use to get rid of them.  

Ants 

The most likely type of insect you’ll find in your home after a bed bug infestation is ants. 

As I said above, ants are scavengers who will consume dead insects if they can track them down. This means they may show up to feed on deceased bed bugs. 

Luckily, if you do find ants in your home, there are a few options to get rid of them. 

The best way to eliminate ants is to put down ant baits. 

Ant baits are traps that use food to attract the ants and then kill them after they come into contact with the insecticide hidden inside the device. 

You can set these traps anywhere ants appear to help reduce the infestation. 

If you’re looking for a less expensive option, you can try to make your home less appealing for the ants so they are more likely to leave on their own. 

To do this, you need to make sure you don’t leave any food or crumbs around, and that you clean up any spills as quickly as possible. 

If your ant problem still persists after a few weeks, consider putting all of your food in airtight containers. 

Roaches 

Roaches, particularly the American cockroach, will feed on dead bed bugs if given the opportunity. 

Now sadly, roaches are another type of insect that, like bed bugs, are hard to eradicate. 

Finding roaches in your home can be a nightmare. 

However, many people have had success using bait stations, similar to those used for ants. 

These devices work because the roaches will smell the bait in the trap and eat it without knowing that it’s poisonous. 

The roach will then return to its colony, where it will die. 

Afterward, the other roaches will eat the dead body, which poisons the additional cockroaches. 

Spiders 

You’re not likely to get spiders in your home after killing bed bugs, because most spiders only eat live prey. 

However, if the spiders are starving, young, or belong to certain species, they may actually scavenge for dead insects, such as bed bugs. 

One of the cheapest and most effective ways to eliminate spiders from your home is to spray liquids that have smells they don’t like. 

Some examples of aromas that spiders don’t enjoy include peppermint oil and vinegar. 

In order to get rid of spiders, try filling a spray bottle with one of these deterrents, and spray it wherever you notice any spider activity. 

You can also try using glue traps. 

To use these simple devices, just set them up in any areas where spiders have appeared. 

Centipedes 

Although centipedes eat bed bugs, they typically won’t eat dead ones. 

However, centipedes are likely to search for and consume dead bed bugs if they are hungry. 

If you notice any centipedes in your home after eliminating bed bugs, you should purchase an insecticide that kills these types of bugs. 

Alternatively, if you don’t want to use an insecticide in your house, you can also put out glue traps in high-traffic areas. 

How Can I Kill Bed Bugs Without Attracting Other Insects?

If you want to be absolutely sure that the dead bed bugs in your home won’t attract other insects, it’s important to ensure that all of the bed bug carcasses have been removed from your home. 

When you do this, there will be nothing left to attract other bugs. 

Conclusion 

Killing bed bugs do not attract more bed bugs, but in some cases, it can bring other species of bugs into your home. 

If you discover an infestation of another insect population, try the above-mentioned methods to eliminate them.