Bed Bugs and Bat Bugs: What’s the Difference?

We have all heard the horror stories surrounding bed bugs. You know…the tales about bringing tiny stowaways home with you from that fun vacation at the beach. How many people actually strip search the beds in rental houses and hotels before climbing into them? If you happen to be a good detective, you might just find a few new frenemies during your investigation. What you might not know is there are actually other bugs you might see between the mattresses that you can easily confuse with bed bugs. To the naked eye bat bugs look like bed bugs’ twins. But what ARE bat bugs?

When prehistoric humans fashioned primitive sleeping cots in caves, bed bugs were present. If those caves had a few bats hanging around, they probably had bat bugs as well. Some of the earliest historical writings mentioned these biting pests. Since the two types of bugs are almost identical in appearance, how can you tell the difference?

Bed Bugs vs Bat Bugs

Remember the classic bedtime blessing to sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite? These tiny vampires were debated in ancient historical writings. Although human beds and mattresses have evolved over thousands of years, the same bed bugs have been problematic through the ages.

While bed bugs crave human blood, they are related to bat bugs that feed on bat blood. Both are about the size of a pin and are virtually indistinguishable without a magnifying glass. So, if you’ve found that you have a bat bug infestation, you can be sure that you also are infested with bats.

Bat bugs will only turn to humans and pets if their bat hosts are gone. Bed bugs prefer humans and often lie dormant in mattresses and bedding to come out at night for a tiny sip of blood. Both pests leave small, red bite marks that can cause intense itching. Although neither bug is known to transfer diseases to humans, who wants the biting and itching?

Bodies

Unless you are a trained specialist or have a good magnifying lens, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between bed bugs and bat bugs. Bat bugs have longer microscopic hairs on their thorax. Both bugs have a dark brown to reddish color with a flat oval shape. Bat bugs are usually about one-fourth of an inch big while bed bugs are a tad bit smaller at about .13 inches.

Does just the thought of these bitsy biters make your skin crawl? Both the bed bug and the bat bugs are insects. They are also classified as true bugs because they have straw-like mouthparts that drink blood or nectar. However, bed bugs and bat bugs don’t have wings to fly, so they get around by crawling.

Body Sections

Like other insects, their bodies are divided into three sections, head, thorax (chest) and abdomen. Both bugs’ heads have a compound eye on each side. These multi-lens eyes are sensitive to light and motion. Their antennae pair has four segments, and they are used to sense danger and a possible host.

Bed bugs and bat bugs have a mouth with a retractable tube called the proboscis. When the bed bug is on a human or the bat bug is on a bat, they uncoil the proboscis to pierce their hosts’ skin and suck blood. Simultaneously, they inject a substance that temporarily numbs the bite, so their stolen meal goes unnoticed.0

Head

Their head is attached to their thorax, which acts as an anchor for three legs on each side, making a total of six. These legs are segmented and have evolved for quick movement. They have a microscopic hook on their segmented legs that allow them to climb and cling to their hosts.

Bed bugs and bat bugs can scurry up to four feet a minute. If they kept up that speed for an hour, they could cover 240 feet, over half the length of a football field. Their survival depends on their speed and agility.

Wing Pads

Although they don’t have true wings like most bugs, they have vestigial wing pads. These useless pads are a clue that both bed bugs and bat bugs once had wings before they evolved into wingless creatures.

Attached to the thorax is the abdomen, which contains vital organs and their reproductive system. Since they need to expand, the bugs’ abdomen is segmented and opens like an accordion as they ingest blood. If you notice one that has fed, you will see a tinge of red in their blood engorged abdomen.

Both males and females of bat bugs and bed bugs are about the same size and color. You can tell the difference by looking at the tip of their abdomen. Female abdomens are rounded while males come to a point.

Behaviors

Neither of these pests are social insects like ants or termites. However, they do tend to gather in the most remote places to stay safely hidden. Like legendary vampires, they are nocturnal and are rarely seen during the day.

They depend on scents, called pheromones, as a warning for danger or a possible host. After they are finished dining on bat or human blood, they release a smell that lets the whole group know that mealtime is over.