What Are Bat Bugs? Your Guide To These Creepy Critters & How To Handle Them

If you are hearing odd noises in your attic or noticing mysterious bites in an old building, bat bugs might just be the culprits.

These sneaky pests are often mistaken for their close cousins, bed bugs, but they have their own quirks and tricks.

Walk with me now as we crack the case and clear out the bat bugs!

 

How to Identify Bat Bugs

Bat bugs (Cimex pilosellus or Cimex adjunctus) are parasitic insects closely related to bed bugs, often found where bats roost.

They are flat, oval, reddish-brown critters, about 3 to 5 mm long, with short, non-functional wings. Their key giveaway? They have longer, hairier antennae than bed bugs, and they are visible under a magnifying glass.

They feed on bat blood but will bite humans if their bat hosts vanish.

Quick Tip: Collect a bug in a sealed jar and compare it to bed bug images online or consult a pro for accurate identification.

 

What are Key ID Features

• Size: 3 to 5 mm, like a small apple seed.
• Color: Reddish-brown, darker after feeding.
• Antennae: Longer, with noticeable hairs (unlike bed bugs’ smoother ones).
• Location: Often near bat roosts: attics, chimneys, or wall voids.

Most bat bug cases are misdiagnosed as bed bugs, leading to ineffective control.

 

Read also: Overwintering Pests In Spring: Your Battle Plan To Stop Them Early

 

What are the Behavior and Habitat of Bat Bugs?

Bat bugs thrive where bats roost, hiding in cracks, crevices, or bat guano piles. They are nocturnal, feeding on sleeping bats but switching to humans if bats are evicted or migrate.

Most bat bug infestations occur in older homes or barns near bat colonies. Females lay 20 to 100 eggs, hatching in 7 to 10 days, with adults living up to a year without feeding.

The habitat of bat bugs includes the following:

• Attics/Chimneys
• Wall Voids
• Furniture

Quick Tip: Check attics or eaves for bat droppings or shed bug skins; prime bat bug hideouts.

 

Why are Bat Bugs a Problem?

Bat bugs do not just creep you out; they bite. Their bites cause itchy, red welts, similar to bed bugs, with 10% of people experiencing allergic reactions.

While they do not transmit diseases like bed bugs might, their presence signals a bat issue, which carries rabies risks. Plus, cleanup costs for infestations average $1,000 to $5,000.

Quick Tip: Wash bite areas with soap to prevent infection; use hydrocortisone for itch relief.

Impacts at a Glance

• Bites: Itchy welts, lasting 3 to 7 days.
• Bats: Their presence flags a bat problem, needing professional removal.
• Costs: Infestations disrupt homes or businesses, with high cleanup fees.

 

How to Control Bat Bugs

Bat bugs will not leave without a fight. Control starts with bats, then tackles the bugs:

1. Evict Bats

Bat bugs rely on bats, so removing the colony is step one. We recommend hiring a bat exclusion specialist to install one-way exit devices, reducing bug populations by 80%. Check local laws, though, as bats are protected in many areas.

Quick Tip: Avoid bat removal during maternity season (May to August) to comply with wildlife laws.

2. Vacuum and Clean

Vacuum mattresses, furniture, and cracks to remove bugs and eggs. Daily vacuuming cuts populations by 50%. Wash bedding at 140°F to kill stragglers.

3. Use Insecticides

For heavy infestations, pros use pyrethroids or silica dust, killing 90% of bat bugs. Apply in cracks and crevices, not open areas, to avoid resistance.

Quick Tip: Hire a licensed pest control pro for safe, effective treatments.

4. Prevent Reinfestation

Seal entry points with caulk or steel wool, reducing reinfestation by 70%. Monitor for bats with annual attic checks.

Quick Tip: Install chimney caps to block bat re-entry; prevention starts at the source.

 

Read also: 8 Effective Essential Oils to Get Rid of Bats

 

Conclusion

Bat bugs, the hairy cousins of bed bugs, lurk where bats roost, biting humans when their hosts vanish.

By identifying them, removing bats, cleaning thoroughly, and sealing entries, you can evict these pests for good.

Have you seen a bat bug before? Share it via the comments section, and let us keep your space critter-free!

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