Do you know how to get rid of bat bugs? Bat bugs, also known as anthracnose. They are parasitic insects that feed mostly on bats and draw their blood. The name can be applied to both members of the family Polyctenidae as well as members of the family Cimicidae.
However, in this article, we are discussing the best ways on how to get rid of bat bugs. But before we proceed, what do you know about bat bugs?
What is a Bat Bug?
Bat bugs, also known as anthracnose, are parasitic insects that feed mostly on bats and draw their blood. The name can be applied to both members of the family Polyctenidae as well as members of the family Cimicidae.
Due to the striking similarity in appearance between bat bugs and bed bugs, it is fairly uncommon for bat bugs to be misidentified as bed bugs.
One absolutely requires the use of a microscope in order to be able to differentiate between the two. Bat bugs will also bite humans if they have the opportunity to do so.
The time it takes for an egg to develop into an adult can range anywhere from two weeks to more than fifteen weeks under ideal conditions, with one and a half months being the typical time span.
Without food, an adult body can function normally for up to a year or even longer. In order for the common bedbug to complete its life cycle and mature into an adult capable of laying eggs, the nymph must consume blood.
If their roosting area is disturbed, bat bugs will consume other warm-blooded animals, including humans, in addition to bats.
Humans are included in this category. It is a nuisance, but it does not pose any health risks. There has been no evidence linking bat bugs to any diseases.
There have been reports of bat bugs inhabiting the midwestern United States as well as Scotland. They are found in homes and other buildings that bats frequent, such as abandoned mines and caves.
Due to the fact that they transport insects on their backs, bats are the most prevalent cause of infestations in the dwellings of humans.
Bat bugs frequently take up residence in regions such as attics, chimneys, and other locations that are frequented by bats. On the other hand, if the bats fly away or are removed, you will be able to investigate the rest of the building.
How did I End up with Bat Bugs Infestation?
An attic or wall void that has bat bugs suggests that bats reside there now or have in the past. In contrast to ticks, these parasites do not attach themselves to their hosts.
Insects, on the other hand, remain on the bat colony’s roost as long as they have access to blood. Despite the fact that bat bugs are a distinct species from bed bugs, their outward appearances are so similar that scope is required to tell them apart.
Read also:Â Bat Bug vs. Bed Bug: Identification, Similarities & Differences
What kind of Danger do Bat Bugs Pose?
These insects are sometimes misidentified as bed bugs by homeowners, which results in inefficient pest control measures being taken.
Although the bites of bat bugs, like those of bed bugs, can be painful and uncomfortable, there is no clear evidence that bat bugs are responsible for the transmission of disease to humans and pets or death at this time.
Read also:Â 8 Effective Essential Oils to Get Rid of Bats
What are the Signs of Bat Bugs Infestation?
Homeowners are frequently taken aback when they find evidence of bat bug infestations in the form of bite marks on themselves or their pets.
Due to the fact that the insects are so simple to crush unintentionally, their existence can sometimes be determined by the presence of minute blood spots on furniture, pillowcases, or bedsheets.
Also, you will find dark or rusty stains of bedbug excrement on sheets and mattresses, bed linens, and walls are signs of a bat bugs infestation.
Bat bug feces, bat bug egg shells, or bat bug skins that have been shed can be found in regions where bat bugs hide. The foul, musty stench that comes from the scent glands of the bugs.
Read also:Â How to Get Rid of Bats Easily
How to Get Rid of Bat Bugs
How to get rid of bat bugs? In homes where bats have been absent from their nests for an extended period of time, bat bugs will venture further within the structure in search of a new host.
The pests hide in dark cracks and fabric folds when they enter new rooms. Bats must be kept out of buildings if they are to be eliminated as a source of bat bugs.
- Once the bats have been removed, all of the bat harborage/roosting locations often attics, must be treated with residual insecticides through the crack, crevice, and spot treatments.
- Dust formulations are recommended in voids where they will not disperse to non-target areas.
- Keep an eye out for places that lead to the inside of your homes such as doorways and light fixtures.
- Treatments like these are essential if you want to get rid of bat bugs after they’ve moved on from their previous host.
- Treatment around light fixtures and ceiling moldings is the next step.
- Get rid of the bats in your house.
- Use a pyrethroid pesticide to treat regions that are plagued with bugs. Some examples of pyrethroid insecticides include deltamethrin, bifenthrin, and beta-cyfluthrin.
- In order to get rid of any bugs that the pesticide treatment might not have killed, it is necessary to carry out some fundamental cleanliness practices.
- Bedding and clothing should be washed in hot water, and you should routinely vacuum your carpet, mattress, and furniture.
- Immediately pour the contents of the vacuum bag into a separate plastic bag, make sure the bag is sealed, and then toss it in a rubbish can located outside.
Conclusion
In cases of bat bug infestation, if the situation is not controlled properly, the amount of time and money necessary for extermination will steadily increase over time.
Keeping up with these steps on how to get rid of bat bugs will help reduce cost, and save time too.
It is not unusual for bat bugs to remain in living areas for a period of many weeks after treatment has been administered. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help.
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