Bat Bugs - Parasites that live on bats

Parasite on Bat

 

Bat bugs are parasites that live and feed on the native bats in our area. Similar to the way that fleas live and feed on dogs. Bat bugs are very similar to bed bugs and it takes a very trained eye and a microscope to tell them apart. We typically find bat bugs in attics and other areas where large colonies of bats reside. A large pile of bat guano under a bat roost in an attic will usually be crawling with bat bugs. When you shine a flashlight on the pile of bat guano it looks as if it's alive and moving from all the bugs crawling through it. Bat bugs are bloodsucking insects and usually feed on the blood from bats. However if bats are not available they will attach themselves to other animals including humans.

This particular attic shown in the pictures below was by far the worst case of bat bugs that we have ever come across. There were thousands of bat bugs crawling all over this chimney and the guano piles below it.

 

Bat Guano on Chimney

 

Bat Guano

Bat Sludge

 

How to handle a Bat Bug infestation

Bat bug infestations must be handled very carefully to avoid disastrous problems. If bats are excluded from an attic and the bat bugs are left behind. They will often drop down into the living space of the house while looking for a new host. In this situation the homeowner ends up with hundreds (if not thousands) of bed bugs crawling throughout their home. In some cases it can be more difficult to get rid of the bat bugs than the bats. ALWAYS bring in a professional pest control company that has experience in eliminating bat bugs when you have this type of problem.

When we encounter a severe bat bug infestation we work in conjunction with a reputable pest control company to properly take care of the bat bugs. This often includes several visits from both companies to evict the bats and treat the bat bugs with several different chemicals. This ensures that the bugs will not enter the living space of the house and will be treated and killed in the attic. Timing is critical in this situation and the coordination of the visits from both companies must be worked out perfectly to avoid problems.

If you have a severe bat infestation or you are encountering bat bugs in your home or attic you can contact us or visit our bat removal page for more information.

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