Keep reading, as I will be giving you tips on how to get rid of bat bugs.
Do you have an attic in your home? If you do then maybe you would’ve noticed some small insects that resemble bed bugs. Well, these may be bat bugs.
They feed on the blood of mammals, just like the way mosquitoes do. Their bites can be itchy and cause irritations to the human skin.
What Kills Bat Bugs?
These insects have a strong resemblance to the common bed bug. You will need a microscope to tell the difference.
Just like bed bugs, bat bugs also bite and suck blood off mammals. The main difference is that bat bugs prefer to get their blood from bats.
If your attic had bats, then the bugs were most likely there before. If the bats leave, then they will make their way into your home in search of new food sources (you).
Bat bugs don’t latch on and live on the bodies of their victims (just like ticks do). They only suck blood when they are hungry and remain in the area where they can get their food.
Amazingly, adult bat bugs can survive for as long as a year without feeding, but as they reproduce, the young ones will get straight to sucking as much blood as they can find to grow.
Bat bugs can be found creeping in cracks and crevices around the walls. You can also find them on mattresses, rugs, and the couch.
How To Get Rid Of Bat Bug Infestation
Luckily, it is not impossible to get rid of bat bugs. There are many means by which you can exterminate them yourself.
Follow these tips to get rid of bat bugs.
-
Identify The Signs
For you to successfully fight bat bug infestations, you have to first be away from their presence.
One of the ways you can tell they are around is small patches of blood on the couch, but mainly on your bed. The time you are asleep is perfect for them to strike, as you will be almost motionless and they can feed easily.
Another means by which you can detect the presence of bat bugs is by bite marks on your body.
Their bites are not hard or painful, so you may not even feel a thing when you are bitten. However, you will find inflammation marks on the parts of your skin that have been bitten.
These signs of bat bug infestation are very identical to that of bed bug infestation. Nonetheless, they will alert you that your home is under attack by pests.
Upon noticing these signs, you should look around your bedroom and living room to locate where they are hiding. Check under your pillows, under the mattress, the area between the arm of your couch, cracks, and crevices, and your carpet.
After you have found where they are most active, you can proceed to take action.
-
Use Organic Insecticides
Bat bugs are not as resistant as bed bugs, so they are fairly easy to kill. Most Insecticides will work on bat bugs, but you have to be certain of the kinds you use and if they suit your situation.
There are commercial pesticides made with purely organic materials, while there are others made with toxic chemicals.
Organically made pesticides are safe to use around the home since they are non-toxic. They won’t be a threat to children and pets since they are not harmful (except for the bugs of course).
You can make an organic insecticide at home, using different combinations to achieve your results.
One such organic combination is garlic and cayenne pepper. This has proven to be very deadly against many types of bugs and it isn’t harmful to humans.
To whip up a batch, you will need only a few cheap items. These include some cloves of garlic, some cayenne pepper, some water, and a spray bottle.
Grind the garlic into a powdery form, the same as the cayenne pepper. Add into a quart of water and stir until all the elements have been well blended. Leave it to sit overnight so the water can suck out as much of the garlic’s elements as it can.
The next morning, pour the mixture, into a spray bottle and visit the areas where the bat bugs are very active.
Spray across the areas and spray directly on them if you find them around.
The areas you should target include the carpet, beneath the mattress, cracks, and crevices, around the sofa, and any other place they could be hiding.
Insects hate garlic spray, as the effects are hard for them to bear, the cayenne pepper only makes it worse!
-
Use Chemical-based Insecticides
To be honest, chemical-based Insecticides are a lot more effective than organic kinds, but they are toxic and can harm humans.
There are a lot of them being sold, some are stronger (or more toxic) than others. Some toxic substances are prohibited from being sold to the general public. Ask the people at the pest control store for the ones that can help you solve your infestation problem.
When you get home, wear a face mask and hand gloves before spraying. These will keep you from making direct contact with the pesticide.
Spray the pesticide all across the rug, beneath your bed, at the sides of your couch, and every crack or corner where they must have lodged.
The good thing about these types of pesticides is that they kill the bat bugs in mere minutes, and you don’t have to wait to use them. You can apply as soon as you get home and have taken all safety protocols.
After use, make sure you store the can in a place where your kids and your pets cannot access, to avoid accidental ingestion, which can be fatal.
If need be, move your family to a friend’s place or a close family member’s home before you start applying the pesticide. They usually have strong, burning scents that can hurt the eyes. They are also not ideal to inhale (hence the facemask).
Most of them also have a lasting effect, who means they can work for several days, killing and keeping other bad bugs away in the process.
You can stay away for a few days so the pesticide can do its work.
-
Use Boric Acid
This is another means by which you can fight off Bat bugs. This isn’t a spray, so you can squirt it across the rug or couch. Rather, you can sprinkle some act the areas where they are very active.
The acid will poison them and they will die.
Boric acid is not as toxic as many commercial-grade pesticides, but you still need to be cautious when you use it.
Children and pets also have to be kept far away from it to avoid accidental ingestion.
-
Try Some Neem Oil
These oils are one of the most popular organic weapons with which you can use to fight bat bugs. They are not harmful to humans or pets, but they irritate bat bugs, among a wide range of other annoying insects.
-
Vacuum The Rug And Other Cushioned Surfaces
After you have applied Insecticides all across the infested areas, you can proceed to do a thorough vacuum. Doing this will help you pick up what’s left of the bat bugs.
If some didn’t make contact with the Pesticides, then they may still be alive and kicking. The vacuum will suck them up and remove them from your rug.
Also vacuum around your bedroom area, going around the mattress and pillows to pick up the bugs.
-
Wash The Rugs And Bed Sheets
Since bat bugs are fond of crawling along with rugs and sheets, it would be wise to take them out for a hot Wash.
Boil some water and pour it into a large plastic bucket. Throw in some washing detergent into the bucket and shake thoroughly to produce a thick foam.
Dip your sheets in them and leave them to soak for a few hours. The unsuspecting bat bugs will still hang on to the sheets even as you are taking them out for a wash.
They will be drowned by the warm water and soap mixture.
Spread the sheets along the line and let the natural sunlight do its job.
Shake the sheets thoroughly before you bring them back into your room.
You should also take your rugs or carpets to professional carpet cleaners so they can go it a thorough steam wash.
How To Control Bat Bugs
The best means to control them is to keep your attic free of bats since the bugs prefer bat blood to any other.
Also, see off possible entry points to keep them out.
Conclusion
Bat Bugs have soft bites, nonetheless, they can be very annoying pests.
Follow the tips above to remove and control them.
I hope this article on how to get rid of bat bugs has been helpful.
Thanks for reading!