We envision a resilient world dependent on the thoughtful cultivation of plants

Nature’s Accidental Technology Against Bedbugs

Articles: Nature’s Accidental Technology Against Bedbugs

Scanning electron microscopy has revealed the nature of an effective historical management practice against bedbugs in Eastern Europe. Bean leaves scattered on floors of sleeping quarters served as a means of bedbug entrapment followed by burning of the leaves each morning. Since there is no evolutionary association of bean leaves and bedbugs, the fate of bedbugs by this method was purely coincidental. As documented in microscopic videography, hooked trichomes on leaf surfaces trap bedbugs who then struggle and impale their tarsi. Laboratory attempts to synthetically duplicate a functional bean leaf surface for this purpose has so far fallen short.

Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 10:83

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Responses

Social Media

Garden Futurist Podcast

Most Popular

Videos

Topics

Related Posts

Powered By MemberPress WooCommerce Plus Integration

Your free newsletter starts here!

Don’t want to see this pop-up? Members, log-in here.

Why do we ask for your zip code?

We do our best to make our educational content relevant for where you garden.

Why do we ask for your zip code?

We do our best to make our educational content relevant for where you garden.

The information you provide to Pacific Horticulture is NEVER sold, shared, or rented to others.

Pacific Horticulture generally sends only two newsletters per Month.