What Are Bat Bugs?
Bat bugs (Cimex adjunctus) are blood-feeding parasites closely related to bed bugs. They look nearly identical — the only reliable difference is the length of fringe hairs on the thorax, which requires magnification to see. Bat bugs feed primarily on bats, hitching rides on their fur and living in cracks and crevices near roosting areas in your attic, gable vents, and wall voids.
The real problem starts after bats are removed. When bat bugs lose their primary food source, they migrate into your living space looking for a new host — and that means they'll start biting you and your family.
Bat Bugs vs. Bed Bugs
Misidentification is extremely common. Many homeowners — and even some pest control companies — mistake bat bugs for bed bugs and treat accordingly. The problem? Bed bug treatments alone won't solve a bat bug infestation because the source (bats in your home) hasn't been addressed.
Key differences between bat bugs and bed bugs:
- Primary host: Bat bugs prefer bats; bed bugs prefer humans
- Location: Bat bugs are found near bat roosts (attics, gable vents, chimneys); bed bugs are found near beds and furniture
- Treatment: Bat bugs require bat exclusion first, then targeted treatment; bed bugs require chemical or heat treatment cycles
- Reproduction: Bat bugs cannot sustain a long-term population feeding only on humans
Important
If you're finding what look like bed bugs in upper floors or near your attic access, have your attic inspected for bats. The bugs may actually be bat bugs, and treating for bed bugs without removing the bats will not solve the problem.
Health Risks of Bat Bugs
While bat bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans, their bites cause itching, redness, swelling, and allergic reactions in some people. The psychological stress of a bat bug infestation — waking up with unexplained bites, finding bugs in your bedding — can cause significant insomnia and anxiety.
How We Solve Bat Bug Problems
Getting rid of bat bugs requires a two-step approach:
- Step 1: Bat exclusion — We humanely remove the bats using one-way exclusion devices and seal all entry points to prevent return
- Step 2: Guano cleanup & treatment — We remove all bat guano, treat roosting areas with residual insecticides, and sanitize affected spaces to eliminate remaining bat bugs
Simply removing bats without cleanup leaves bat bugs behind — they can survive for over a year without a blood meal, so they'll keep migrating into your living space long after the bats are gone.
