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Bat Bugs and Bat Ticks — Indicates the Likelihood of an Active Bat Infestation Inside the Structure

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Bat Bugs and Bat Ticks — Indicates the Likelihood of an Active Bat Infestation Inside the Structure Bat Bugs Lancaster County 444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A / Lincoln, NE 68528 and Bat Ticks 402-441-7180 / http://lancaster.unl.edu Barb Ogg, UNL Extension Educator [351] Jim Kalisch, Insect Diagnostician, UNL Extension Each spring through autumn, Figure 1. Comparison of the human bed bug, Cimex lectularius and the clients bring bat ectoparasites to Comparison betweeneastern bat the bug, Bed Cimex Bug adjunctus and Eastern. Bat Bug University of Nebraska–Lincoln Front edge of pronotum a deep curve. Front edge of pronotum a more shallow curve. Extension offices for identification. Clients consist of homeowners, apart- ment dwellers, housing managers, office workers and pest control professionals. The presence of these ectoparasites — bat bugs and bat ticks — indicates the likelihood of an active bat infestation inside the structure. Body not very hairy. Body quite hairy. Bats are nocturnal and often roost during the daytime in attics or wall voids. They also may roost Hairs shorter Hairs much than width longer than behind window shutters or vents on of eye. width of eye. the exterior part of the house. In early spring, it is possible bats hibernating over the winter months will evacuate the premises, leaving their parasites pronotum pronotum behind. In both cases, where bat parasite populations have become UNL DepartmentJim Kalisch, of Entomology excessive or when bats evacuate their Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius Eastern Bat Bug, Cimex adjunctus roosts, these hungry parasites will Jim Kalisch, Department of Entomology, Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic, University of Nebraska-Lincoln wander, looking for warm-blooded longer as well. One way to remember and other warm-blooded animals hosts to feed upon. this is bats are hairier than humans. when forced to wander in the absence Refer to Figure 1, for key features of their normal hosts. Feeding on Bat Bugs which distinguish the eastern bat bug humans produces bite reactions such In the United States, Bat bug from the human bed bug. as swelling and intense itching and is there are more than a (approximate It’s important for pest control an annoyance, but it is not dangerous size) dozen species of bugs professionals to recognize the differ- — bat bugs and bed bugs are not whose primary hosts are bats or birds. ence between bat bugs and bed bugs, known to transmit any diseases. The most likely species found inside because there is a vast difference bat-infested structures and easily in management and expense. The Bat Ticks confused with bed bugs is the eastern relatively simple solution to bat bug Bat ticks are a type of bat bug, Cimex adjunctus. The human infestations is removal of the bats “soft” tick. Soft ticks Bat tick bed bug, Cimex lectularius, and eastern and making alterations to exteriors of look quite different (approximate bat bug are the same size and look so structures to exclude them. Elimina- from the more- size) similar a microscope or hand lens is tion of bed bugs, however, is much commonly recognized “hard” ticks needed to confidently tell them apart. more involved and complicated. prevalent in grasslands or wooded Bat bugs are much more hairy than While bat bugs feed on blood areas. Soft ticks prefer dry areas and bed bugs, and their hairs are much from bats, they will feed on humans Continued on next page Know how. Know now. Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. ® Extension’s educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture. are capable of living for many years in Figure 2. Dorsal and ventral views of an adult bat tick, Carios (formerly the absence of a host. Ornithodoros) kelleyi. The adult bat tick is about 3/8-inch long, with a One species of soft tick closely granulated, warty-looking body, associated with bats is the bat tick, Carios (formerly Ornithodoros) kelleyi (Figure 2). Bat ticks are not very common, but can occasionally be found in houses and buildings infested with bats. They hide in cracks and crevices in bat roosting areas and feed on the blood of their hosts while they are roosting. If the bats abandon a roost, are removed or if populations decline for some other reason, the ticks become hungry and start to wander about in search of another host. This is when they are usually noticed. Like bat bugs, bat ticks prefer to feed on bats but will bite or feed on UNL DepartmentJim Kalisch, of Entomology other animals, including humans, if bats are not available. but structural modifications may also to eliminating and excluding bats, Control of Bat Bugs be necessary which discourage attrac- it may be helpful to apply a residual and Bat Ticks tiveness for bat roosting. The best time insecticide to bat roosting areas and Controlling bat bug and bat tick to seal bats out of a building is late other places where bat bugs or bat infestations in structures requires summer and fall, after the breeding ticks have been observed. eliminating bats. This is largely accom- season is over and bats have migrated plished by sealing cracks and holes, to their wintering quarters. In addition .
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