Three key differences between bed bugs and bat bugs

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October 4, 2024

Matt Remmen

Matt Remmen

Envu

In pest management, knowing your enemy matters. Bed bugs and bat bugs often cause confusion, emphasizing the need for proper identification.

Three key differences are:

  1. Appearance. Bed bugs and bat bugs look similar, but bat bugs have longer fringe hairs. A magnifying glass aids in differentiation.
  2. Behavior. Bed bugs feed on human blood, while bat bugs favor bat blood. They only resort to human bites when bats are scarce. Look for bat bugs adjacent to chimneys, bathrooms and on exterior walls.
  3. Management. Employ targeted insecticides, heat treatments and meticulous inspections as appropriate for bed bugs. For bat bugs, start with resolving the bat infestation by sealing entry points and ensuring humane bat exclusion, then proceed to an area treatment.

True to their names, bed bugs prefer cozy bedrooms, while bat bugs thrive in bat-friendly lofts. Remember to educate your customers on this key distinction.

About the Author

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Matt Remmen is senior technical market development manager for Envu Professional Pest Management.

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