Bat Bugs vs. Bed Bugs: What’s the Difference?

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Most of us have heard of bed bugs, the dreaded blood-sucking parasites that are so laborious to get rid of. My brother happens to be on his third extermination attempt at this moment. They’ve probably become so ubiquitous because our global society tends to keep them in good business, as we unwittingly carry them from place to place. But have you heard of the bed bug’s relative, the bug?

Bat bugs are also blood-feeding parasites that use bats as their primary food source. “The two are so closely related that they share the same genus: Cimex,” says Kait Chapman, an Extension Educator and Urban Entomologist the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

But we’re less likely to run into bat bugs, and when we do, their bites tend to be less annoying. Here’s how to tell them apart, and what else to know about bat bugs vs bed bugs.

Bat Bugs

Bat bugs are small insects that feed primarily on bat blood. If no bats are available, they will occasionally feed on birds and mammals, including humans.

“Bat bugs are often mistaken for bed bugs as they share similarities in size, shape and color,” says Emma Grace Crumbley, an entomologist at Mosquito Squad. “Like bed bugs, bat bugs are not social and do not live in colonies, nests or hives.”

What do bat bugs look like?

Bat bugs are wingless, flat, oval-shaped insects. Adults grow up to 1/4 inch long, about the size of an apple seed. They are colored brown, beige or reddish-brown.

“The biggest visual difference is that bat bugs possess longer and more hairs on their body than a bed bug,” says Ian Williams, an entomologist and technical services manager at Orkin. “But it usually takes a professional and a magnifying lens to tell bat bugs and bed bugs apart.”

Where do bat bugs live?

Bat bugs travel on the skin of bats and, therefore, tend to live where bats nest. When bats are excluded or when overwintering ones depart, bat bugs can be left behind. At that point, they may start searching for another host, making their way into parts of the home inhabited by humans, such as rooms on upper-level floors, where they hide in dark crevices and fabric folds.

“They will even latch onto mice and rats, providing a convenient method of entry into kitchens or basements,” says Williams. “Then they can hide in carpeting and furniture for extended periods, as they can survive for more than a year without feeding.”

Do bat bugs bite humans?

Yes, if no bat hosts are available, bat bugs can resort to biting humans; however, you’re less likely to encounter them than bed bugs. “Their mouthparts are so small that their bites often go undetected,” says Crumbley. “However, some individuals with insect allergies may experience small, swollen and itchy welts.”

Are bat bugs dangerous?

Not really. They are not known to transmit any diseases, but their bites can cause skin irritation, and if you scratch a bite open, it could become infected.

How to get rid of bat bugs

If you have bat bugs in your home, it could be a sign that you also have bats roosting somewhere in your house. If that’s the case, you might want to weigh the merits of a bat exclusion. Then, remove bat bugs by:

• Sanitizing infested items, such as linens;
• Vacuuming molding, baseboards, seals and carpeting; and
• Applying an insecticide (follow instructions exactly, and use only EPA-approved products).

If the infestation is serious, you might want to call a certified professional pest control company.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are also small, wingless insects that feed on human blood, usually at night while the host sleeps. They are best known for infesting bedding, though they can live on and hide in other fabrics, including towels and carpets.

“Bed bugs are not social insects, forming nests or colonies or nests like ants or bees, but they are rarely seen by themselves,” says Crumbley. “Though bed bugs are best known for targeting human hosts, bed bugs can also take blood meals from a range of animals including domestic cats and dogs.”

What do bed bugs look like?

Adult bed bugs are also about the size of an apple seed, with a flat, oval-shaped body, no wings and a brownish-to-reddish color. They look remarkably similar to bed bugs.

“There’s a myth that bed bugs are too small to see with the naked eye, but that’s not true,” says Williams.

Where do bed bugs live?

Bed bugs most often hide in areas people frequent, such as mattresses and couches. They’re nocturnal, so you’re unlikely to see them during the day.

“Bed bugs are also notorious for hitchhiking on belongings, which is how they are spread from household to household,” says Chapman.

Bed bugs are also positively thigmotactic, says Crumbley, which means they like feeling pressure on all sides of their bodies. “This means that bed bugs aren’t going to hang out on top of your sheets, but rather bed bugs like to be in the wrinkles, in between the sheets, in the cracks and crevices of the bed frame and in the mattress itself to feel safe and secure as they wait for their next meal,” she says.

Do bed bugs bite humans?

Yes. Their bites often appear as small, flat or raised areas that are red, swollen, blistered and often itchy and painful. For some people, and even pets, they cause severe discomfort.

“Bites may not become obvious for several days,” says Williams. “However, many people do not react at all to the bite of a bed bug, so many bites leave no mark and go completely unnoticed.”

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Not really. Beyond red and itchy skin, bed bugs do not spread disease. However, in extreme cases, bites can swell dramatically and become blistery, and scratching them can lead to a secondary infection. If you or your pet develop a rash after being bitten by a bed bug, avoid scratching the affected area, and if it becomes infected, contact a medical professional, says Williams.

How to get rid of bed bugs

Getting rid of bed bugs is difficult, so most people call pest management professionals. It often takes a multistep approach, combining chemical insecticides with non-chemical treatments like vacuuming and heat. Some situations may even warrant fumigation.

“Because bed bugs are small and fairly flat, they can easily hide in many areas throughout a room, making controlling bed bugs especially challenging,” says Crumbley

Your best defense against bedbugs is prevention.

• Be wary of bed bugs in hotels, which could get into your luggage.
• Inspect new furniture and purchases before bringing them inside.
• Seal up doors and baseboards between rooms.

“In multiunit housing complexes, bed bugs have been known to travel along and through wall voids, using plumbing and electrical pathways,” says Williams.

About the Experts

Kait Chapman is an Extension Educator of Urban Entomology at Nebraska Extension and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Kait leads educational programs on urban insects and other arthropods that affect human wellbeing, including head lice, bed bugs and ticks.

Emma Grace Crumbley is an entomologist at Mosquito Squad and a self-described bug nerd who uses her expertise to educate people about the fascinating world of bugs.

Ian Williams is a board-certified entomologist and certified wildlife control professional. He currently works as a technical services manager at Orkin, where he trains and educates Orkin pros and the public about pests.