My Co2 CO2 experiment in progress « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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My Co2 CO2 experiment in progress

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nycyn

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Sep 24 2010 1:39:41
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I have a home seltzer maker that uses CO2 canisters. I made a bottle of seltzer. Unscrewed the cap just between closed tight and open enough for it to barely bubble. I wrapped tape around it--sticky side out. I am feeling brilliant PLUS it's keeping me out of the bars. Will let you know.
flabergasted

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Sep 24 2010 1:55:50
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This is interesting what is the seltzer you are using? I thought of a chemical fogger at one time the type they use in the bars and introdicing it to a confined area in a room that an infestation was suspected.
nycyn

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Sep 24 2010 5:15:03
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I am making my own seltzer. I can add CO2 as I please. Jury is still out
nycyn

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Sep 24 2010 23:26:20
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Update. I won't be able to prove or disprove unless I have bedbugs to experiment with. If I have them it is not an infestation.

Another comment on CO2. I am using a common sense approach: I'm using exhaust fans and turning the air purifiers that we already have in such a way to divert any exhaled CO2 from the beds. Can't hurt.
anaphylactic entomologist

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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Sep 26 2010 16:06:22
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Thanks for the post. I work in a lab and was thinking of bringing home some dry ice for the same purpose. i'll let you know if it works any better.

Also, in high school we were poor so we couldn't anesthetize with pressurized CO2 or ether. Instead, all the students used alka selzer. Because there is a burst of CO2, it would anesthetize the flies in about 15 seconds. If the seltzer water doesn't work, maybe try that?
nycyn

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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Sep 26 2010 20:17:59
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It was a cheap shot with what I had around. The dry ice thing is very interesting but I read here that it can get expensive. My 'seltzer' idea wouldn't be necessarily cheaper. It is an aborted experiment for now. Maybe somebody else can pick it up.
prairiemystic

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Oct 4 2010 17:53:32
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I am also making CO2 for bedbug traps. I used dry ice but it doesn't last more than one night and it's so much hassle to get and keep the stuff:
"Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey have created a homemade bedbug trap using a plastic cat-food dish, an insulated jug and some dry-ice pellets": http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=FS1117

The commercial Bedbug Beacon is expensive $50 and $25 for CO2 powder refills. You mix two powders and water to make CO2 for 5 days.

I found out home marijuana growers (big buds dude) and aquarium owners (plants grow more) make C02 by mixing water, sugar, yeast in a big plastic pop bottle. It ferments and makes CO2 for days. So that's my next venture and I'll post on how it does.

Also, an excellent research paper comparing CO2, heat, octenol in bedbug traps:
Bed Bug (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) Attraction to Pitfall Traps Baited With Carbon Dioxide, Heat, and Chemical Lure
nycyn

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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 5 2010 2:11:41
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That sounds like a great idea--the yeast thing.

I have a home seltzer maker. It's a cool thing to have especially because I'm not throwing out dozens of seltzer bottles every week. Next time I have one of those nights where I'm stalking bed bugs, real or imagined, I'll take it in the bed room and do some release every half hour or something. At the moment I am choosing to not do the Flip Out until I absolutely see a live and unquestionable bb.

Will check out the link.

Addendum: Um, I'll check it out tomorrow.
thepiper

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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 5 2010 10:48:13
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What a great idea! I am going to strap some climbups onto my MrBeer kit while I'm out of town next weekend.