Bat Bugs are Another Reason to Keep Bats Out
We’ve all heard a lot about bed bugs as their resurgence into our homes and collective consciousness in recent years has been dramatic.
Today’s post concerns an extremely close relative of the bed bug, the bat bug.
From the same family of insects (Cimicidae), bat bugs look almost identical to bed bugs. And, they share the bed bugs’ most obnoxious trait: they are parasitic blood suckers.
Living near human sleeping areas, bed bugs feed on their human hosts at night filling up with small amounts of blood.
Similarly, bat bugs live near roosting bats and feed on their bat hosts when hungry filling up with small amounts of blood.
The only problem for the bats is that they can’t call a pest control company to help rid them of their troubles.
Bats Bugs : Bats :: Bed Bugs : Humans
Want to see what a bat bug looks like?
Great… because we have a phenomenal picture of a bat bug to show you.
These three big brown bats liked the temperature the day they were photographed and decided to roost right outside their entrance.
And because of the excellent lighting and perfect pose, we can proudly say this is going to be one of the best images of a bat bug on a bat in Google’s image index.
To be clear, the bat bug is the orange/brownish insect on the biggest bat’s wing. It’s head is pointed upward.
Big brown bats living with bat bugs carry the bat bugs around with them, kind of like a dog with fleas. There are times when the bug gets off its host. When it does, the bat bug will stay close to the bats’ roosting area.
Bat Bugs and Humans
As long as the bats are around, bat bugs that have made their way into a home stay near the bats. They stick close to their food source.
But, if the bats are kicked out (excluded), we’ve read there is a chance that bat bugs will migrate from bat roosting spots into areas where humans live. We’ve also read that bat bugs, in lieu of feeding on bat blood, have been known to bite humans as an alternative.
Therefore, its possible that bat bugs may be troublesome for humans for a short time after the bats are kicked out.
While that’s not good news and may require the help of a pest control company that deals with insects, the good news is they won’t be troublesome for long.
Bat bugs, without their primary bat hosts will not live for long or morph into bed bugs. Without the bats, the bat bugs will eventually die. We bet the reverse is true for bed bugs.
Keeping Bats Out Keeps Bat Bugs Out
Once big brown bats leave their summer roosts, which in many cases are people’s attics and soffits, it is a good idea to seal them out so they can’t get back in next year.
Sealing out bats:
- stops bat urine staining
- stops the buildup of guano
- Keeps bat bugs out of living spaces
Please, call us if you’ve had bat problems and are looking for a way to prevent them from coming back next year.
