The habitat preferences and behavior differences between bed bugs and bat bugs

Andrew Fisher, BCE, PHE

Neogen

True bugs are insects that survive by feeding on the blood of a host. While both bed bugs and bat bugs fall under this category and look extremely similar, they differ in their habitat preferences and behaviors.

While bed bugs are commonly found in mattresses and other furniture, bat bugs are more often found in areas where bats reside, such as attics and wall voids. Therefore, discovering bat bugs in a bedroom is highly improbable, though not impossible.

One of the biggest differences between these insects lies in their actions in the absence of a host. Bed bugs tend to remain in their hiding spots until their host reappears, whereas bat bugs may relocate within a structure if their main hosts are absent.

Most bat bug issues arise when a previous bat problem has been addressed, leading them to relocate closer to human living areas.