Bat Bugs
Nuisance
Image: AI-generated illustration
What it is
Blood-feeding insects closely related to bed bugs that primarily parasitize bats. They can wander into occupied rooms when bats leave a structure and may occasionally bite people.
How to recognize it
Look like bed bugs but with longer hairs along the body. Found where bats roost.
Where you will find it
Attics, wall voids, and other places where bats roost.
Why it matters
They bite people when bats leave, so the real problem is the bats, which a professional must address first.
What to do
- Check people and pets for bites or attached pests after being outdoors or traveling.
- Wash and dry bedding and clothing on high heat, and reduce clutter around sleeping areas.
- Do not move bedding or furniture between rooms, since that can spread pests.
- Contact a licensed pest professional before trying home remedies, which can scatter pests.
When to call a professional
- You find bites, dark spots, or live pests in bedding or furniture.
- Pets keep getting fleas or ticks.
- Anyone develops a rash, fever, or illness after a bite (see a doctor).
Related reading
Related pests
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Bed Bugs
Small, flat, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood at night and hide in mattress seams, bed frames and furniture. They do not spread disease, but they are hard to eliminate and spread easily. Early...
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A small hard tick, also called the blacklegged tick, that spreads Lyme disease and other infections. Nymphs are tiny and easy to miss. Check daily, remove ticks promptly, and see a doctor if symptoms follow a bite.
Read more →Fleas
Tiny jumping insects that bite pets and people. Most of the population lives as eggs, larvae and pupae in carpet and bedding, so you need your vet for the pet, steady cleaning and sometimes a professional.
Read more →This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Pests vary by region and situation, and an on-site inspection is the reliable way to know what you have.