When people discover bed bugs and start looking for alternatives to chemical treatments, one of the more surprising questions they ask is:
“Are there any animals or insects that eat bed bugs?”
The answer is yes—but natural predators do not eliminate an infestation.
Some insects will opportunistically feed on bed bugs, but no predator can access their deep hiding spots, match their reproduction rate, or kill their all of the eggs. Even the best-known “bed bug hunters” can’t manage more than a few bugs at a time.
This guide discusses:
- A list of common known bed bug predators
- Why predators fail to control infestations
- How heat treatment surpasses every natural method
- FAQs written to answer common questions
- Convectex expert recommendations
Quick Answer: What Eats Bed Bugs?
These are the primary insects and arthropods known to consume bed bugs:
- Cockroaches
- House centipedes
- Masked hunter insects (assassin bugs)
- Pharaoh ants and other ant species
- Certain spider species
- Some mites (rare)
However — none of these predators provide meaningful population control. Most infestations are hidden behind walls, inside mattresses, electronics, or baseboards where predators cannot reach.
1. Cockroaches: The Most Common Predator
Cockroaches will eat bed bugs if they stumble across them. But roaches are far more dangerous than bed bugs, carrying pathogens that can contaminate food and surfaces.
Why cockroaches don’t solve bed bug problems:
- They do not specialize in hunting bed bugs
- Bed bugs hide in tight crevices roaches rarely enter
- A roach population brings health risks that far outweigh any benefit
- A home would need dozens of roaches for even minimal impact
Cockroaches do not act as “natural control,” against bed bugs and in reality, they make the situation significantly worse.
2. House Centipedes: Effective Hunters, Ineffective Control
House centipedes are fast predators, capable of catching bed bugs when they encounter them.
Limitations:
- They don’t seek out bed bug harborages
- They cannot kill eggs
- They cannot reach inside outlets, furniture joints, or mattress seams
- They reproduce slowly compared to bed bugs
Centipedes are interesting predators, but not a viable eradication method.
3. Assassin Bugs (Masked Hunters): The Only True Bed Bug Predator
The masked hunter (Reduvius personatus) is the closest thing nature has to a specialist bed bug predator.
Strengths:
- Actively hunt live insects
- Can attack bed bugs directly
Fatal flaws:
- They are uncommon indoors
- Their bite is painful to humans
- They do not breed quickly
- They cannot eliminate eggs
Some online sources portray masked hunters as “natural exterminators.” This is misleading—no exterminator in the world uses them.
4. Ants (Pharaoh Ants & Others)
Certain ant species consume bed bugs, especially nymphs.
Why ants fail to control infestations:
- Ants will not leave their colony to hunt bed bugs
- They cannot reach deep cracks or hidden harborages
- Pharaoh ants can spread bacteria and create new problems
- Ant activity often drives bed bugs deeper into hiding
Ants are opportunistic scavengers, not reliable predators.
5. Spiders
Some spiders will feed on bed bugs if one wanders into their web.
Spider limitations:
- Bed bugs rarely get trapped in webs
- Most spiders do not hunt in soft furnishings where bed bugs live
- Even dozens of spiders cannot keep up with bed bug reproduction
Spiders help incidentally, but never strategically.
6. Predatory Mites
Some mite species are known to feed on small arthropods, including insects. Their impact on bed bugs is negligible.
Why mites aren’t useful:
- They require humid environments uncommon in homes
- They cannot invade bed bug harborages
- They do not attack adult bugs consistently
This category appears in some competitors’ lists but has no practical value in real-world pest control.
Why Predators Cannot Control Bed Bug Infestations
Even if your home had every predator listed above, bed bugs would still thrive. Here’s why:
Bed bugs reproduce exponentially
A single female can lay 200+ eggs in her lifetime.
Predators cannot reach their harborages
Bed bugs hide in:
- mattress seams
- screw holes
- wall voids
- electronics
- furniture joints
- behind baseboards
No natural predator can access every hiding spot.
Predators don’t eat bed bug eggs
Heat kills eggs. Predators do not.
Predators exist in low numbers
To match a bed bug population, you’d need hundreds of predators in every room—something no one wants (or can achieve).
Bed bugs evolved to avoid predation
Their flat bodies and cryptic behavior make them difficult prey.
This is why no pest control company in the world recommends predators as a control method.
The Science: Heat Is the Best Method Proven to Kill All Life Stages
According to entomological research published in the Journal of Economic Entomology,
bed bugs die at 120°F when exposed long enough for the heat to penetrate their bodies and eggs.
Convectex professional heat systems elevate room temperatures to 135–145°F—a controlled range that:
- Reaches deadly temperatures faster
- Penetrates electronics, furniture, and wall voids
- Kills adults, nymphs, and eggs
- Avoids overheating beyond safe limits for household items
Natural predators cannot do this. Chemical sprays often fail due to growing insecticide resistance.
Heat is the gold standard for whole-structure or single-room eradication.
Click Here to Check Out Bed Bug Heater Systems For Sale
FAQs
Do any insects naturally kill bed bugs?
Yes. Cockroaches, centipedes, assassin bugs, ants, and some spiders will eat bed bugs. However, none can eliminate an infestation.
What is the best natural predator of bed bugs?
The masked hunter insect is the only notable predator, but it is not domesticated, safe, or effective for home use.
Can pets eat bed bugs?
Dogs and cats may eat a stray bug, but they cannot detect or control infestations.
Can predators kill bed bug eggs?
No. Only sustained heat (113°F+) or professional treatment destroys eggs.
Is there a natural way to get rid of bed bugs?
The only highly effective non-chemical method is professional heat treatment.
Final Thoughts: Predators Are Interesting — But Heat Treatment Solves the Problem
Natural predators might eat a few bed bugs, but they will never eliminate an infestation. Bed bugs reproduce too quickly, hide too effectively, and lay eggs predators cannot reach.
Convectex heat treatment systems:
- Kill all life stages
- Require no chemicals
- Reach areas predators and sprays cannot
- Are used nationwide by professionals and DIY customers
For hotels, homes, offices, and rental properties, heat remains the most trusted and science-backed solution.
If you need equipment, training, or guidance, visit Convectex Training— the industry leader in bed bug heat treatment technology.
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