Knowing the difference between bat bugs vs bed bugs can help you find the best solution for a possible infestation. You’ll be able to accurately relay key information to a pest removal service, but keep in mind that these two insects look almost identical and usually require a professional to tell them apart.
Aside from physical similarities, both a bat bug and a bed bug feed on blood. Bed bugs feed on mammal and bird blood, making your bed the perfect place for them to feast.
Bat bugs, on the other hand, feed on bat blood. They live in bat colonies and even though they don’t pose a threat to you personally, they signal a larger issue that must be dealt with — a bat infestation.
You can Google bat bugs vs bed bugs pictures and will find two small, flat insects with brown colorings that are nearly identical. Here are the subtle differences you may be overlooking.
Appearance
If you look at a bat bug vs a
bed bug, you’ll see they both feed, crawl, and reproduce in a similar manner. The main difference is what they eat. Although bat bugs can feed on humans when bats aren’t present, they won’t be able to reproduce without a bat as a host.
Upon close inspection, you’ll notice that bat bugs are dark brown or beige, and bed bugs are reddish-brown. However, these bugs are so small that it’s difficult to tell the difference in color.
Pest control companies handle these pests on a regular basis and can easily identify the difference. Bat bugs also have longer hair on their thorax but, again, this can be impossible to see without a microscope or the help of a professional.
Treating a Bed Bug vs a Bat Bug
If you find out you have
bat bugs, you can rest easy since they seldom bite humans. You can also control them much easier than you would control bed bugs. But if you have bat bugs, yes — you have bats.
All you need to do is remove any bats that might be roosting in your home or around it. After a pest control company safely and humanely relocates the bats in your home, you can vacuum up any residual bat bugs.
Should you determine that the source of your infestation is bed bugs, don’t panic. Although they can be difficult to remove, there are multiple ways pest control companies can remove them and steps you can take to prevent them from returning. To further put your mind at ease, it’s important to understand that
bed bugs don’t transmit diseases to humans.
Bat Bugs vs Bed Bugs
Once you determine if you have bat bugs vs bed bugs, you can take the appropriate steps toward mitigating them. If you have bat bugs, relocating
roosting bats is all you need to remove the bat bugs.
Bed bugs require a different kind of treatment, usually in the form of an insecticide applied by a professional pest removal service (don't ever attempt this yourself). They may also use heat treatment to rid your home of bed bugs.
If you suspect any type of infestation, be it insects or animals, Serene Property Services can help.
Contact us for an estimate and to discuss the best treatment plan for your home or business. We service all of Sussex County, NJ, and Warwick, NY.
