A good reason to leave an unused bed unmade. BTW: “Making your bed” prevents drying of the bedding after it’s been slept in, leading to a higher population of dust mites. Always glad to strike a blow against compulsive neatness.
This is absolutely necessary if you use cotton bedding. Cotton is a natural substance (obviously) and pests think its a good, natural place to hang out.
In fact, termites will consume bedding, clothes, etc., made from cotton. Termites consume cellulose and cotton has cellulose in it. (termites can’t digest wood—they live off of protozoa in their gut that actually “eat” the cellulose—protozoa is passed on to nymphs from adult termites during feeding)
Cardboard has cellulose in it—probably why the recluse prefers it—it’s very much like a rotting tree. Oh, and termites will definitely go after cardboard.
There’s your entemology lesson for the day.
I find this stuff fascinating.