Are Bat Mites and Bed Bugs the Same?

People all across the country have experienced a bug infestation of some kind. Whether its mosquitoes, ants, gnats, or fleas, we have all been there at least once in our lives. Out of all of the insects that we encounter in our lifetime, bat mites are one we would commonly overlook. No one ever talks about bat mites, mostly because they are often times mistaken for bed bugs

Continue below to learn the similarities and differences between the two insects, as well as, how to permanently get rid of bat mites in your home.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622
A typical bat mite.

Bed Bugs Versus Bat Mites

Most people have heard stories of bed bug infestations, and many have even experienced it for themselves. The usual signs include itching, red bumps and bites, and minuscule bugs in your linens and bed sheets. To get rid of them, people have used exterminators, aerosol sprays, and insecticide treatments to kill and remove the “bed bug” problem.  What some find, is that the infestation eventually comes back.

This is most likely because they treatment administered wasn’t strong enough, or the infestation isn’t bed bugs at all, its bat mites. Bat mites behave very similar to bed bugs. They are tiny parasitic insects that cling to a host and can live up to one year if the climate is agreeable. They live sustainably in dark and narrow areas, just like bats, which is why bats are their favorite hosts.

How to Get Rid of Bat Mites

⚠ No matter how many times your house is fumigated, disinfected, and treated, BAT MITES WILL NEVER GO AWAY unless you get rid of the bats, first!

Standard extermination services are not the correct treatment for bat mites. So long as their host remains, bat mites will continue to breed and reproduce at an exponential rates. Once the bat colonies are cleared from the area and proper preventative maintenance is implemented to ensure there will be no more future bat break-ins, you are on your way to a pest-free living space. This is when you can begin to properly clean and sanitize the area for bat mites. Keep in mind that bats can also carry and transmit fleas, lice, and ticks.

Get Help With Bat Removal and Cleanup in Louisville

Call 553-502-7622 for professional bat removal and bat cleanup insurance claim work in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed bat removal contractors that offer safe and non-lethal, 24 hour bat extraction and exclusion services for residential and commercial properties. We also provide bat cleanup and minor attic restorations for bat damages too. Request a free estimate, anytime.

Here’s What to Do If You Have a Bat in the House

Louisville Bat Control 502-553-7622

Louisville Bat Control 502-553-7622

Has it just been brought to your attention that there’s a bat in your house? If so, do not panic. There is a perfectly safe and effective procedure for dealing with this situation. And bats are very unlikely to attack or harm another living creature unless it is provoked. Even then, it is rare. Remember, the bat is more afraid of you then you of it. So if you have just discovered a bat in your home, continue reading to learn exactly which steps to take next.

Contact a Wildlife Removal Professional

The first step to take when you have a bat in your house is to contact a local wildlife management company that provides bat removal and control services. They can give you instructions on what to do while you wait for them to arrive, whether that be the same day or the next. They may also be able to give you some over-the-phone instruction on how to give them certain information about the situation. You can be their eyes and ears until they can undertake the bat removal process themselves. This will allows them to get an idea of what to expect, and give them a head start on developing a strategy for extraction.

Isolate the Bat

Once you have contacted a trained professional, you may have to wait a little for them to arrive. For companies who offer 24 hour service, you may only need to wait a few hours or so. But for those who do not, you may have to wait until the next business day. So while you wait, you can choose to help the situation by isolating the bat to one area of the home. So if it is in the basement, simply shut the basement door until the contractor arrives.

Do not use a stick or anything else to “persuade” the bat to move to another spot. You never want to risk harming a bat; they are vital parts of our surrounding ecosystem, and in some places, they are protected by law. Instead, if a bat is in an open area of a home that is not easily shut-off, simply close all doors to all other rooms so that it cannot enter another area of the home; and then send your family to one of the closed-off rooms for protection. Be sure to send your cats and dogs too (not just for their own safety, but for the safety of the bat as well).

Provide an Exit

Once all doors are shut and everyone is protected, turn off all interior lights in the main area of the home where the bat is hanging out. Then open a door and turn on the exterior light, and wait to see if the bat flies out. Often times, they do. If they do not, simply join your family in a bat-free room until help arrives.

Louisville Bat Removal

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional Louisville bat removal and control you can trust. We are DNR licensed wildlife control contractors who provide residential and commercial bat removal services at competitive prices. Whether you have one bat or an entire colony, we are fully equipped to manage any job regardless of size or scope. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky today.

Fun Facts About Bats

Bats do not have the best reputation. This is a result of story-telling, movies, fear, misconceptions, and more. It certainly doesn’t help their case that they are also a nuisance wildlife in most states. But despite the social stigma that surrounds them, bats are also fascinating creatures, and an important part of our eco-system. They deserve far more credit than they get, and you will soon find out why! Continue reading to learn more about bats, and some fun facts about their species!

There are Two Kinds of Bats

All bats can be put in one of two categories: Microchiroptera or Megachiroptera. Microchiroptera, also called microbats, are small and mostly eat insects and small rodents. Megachiroptera, or megabats, are much larger and consume only the nectar and pollen from fruits and plants. The Vampire Bat and Little Brown Bat are two common micro-species. The Fruit Bat and the Flying Fox are two common mega-species.

Bats are the Only Mammal that Can Fly

Not only is it a surprise to some that bats are indeed mammals, they are the only mammals on Earth that are capable of “true” flight. Other mammals might have the ability to leap, jump, soar, or float to great extents, but the bat is the only one that can actually take flight and maintain flight. This is a cool fact!

Bats Can Eat More Than 1,000 Insects in One Hour

Bats play a major role in our surrounding eco-system simply by the amount of insects they consume on a nightly basis. Bats can eat more than 1,000 insects and mosquitos in as little as one hour! Not only does this make outdoor summer activities more comfortable for us, it plays a part in protecting plant life from over-infestation.

Not All Bats Use Echolocation to Navigate in the Dark

Microbats use echolocation to hunt and navigate in the dark, but Megabats do not. Megabats have a more pronounced visual cortex, giving them better visual acuity, as well as, an excellent sense of smell. For this reason, they do not require echolocation capabilities.

Bats are 20% of the Entire Mammalia Species

Bats are categorized into orders, classes, suborders, genera, and then species. And there are more than 900 species of bats! This adds up to nearly a quarter of all the mammals in the animal kingdom. That is a lot of insect control!

It is Illegal in Most States to Harm or Kill Bats

Most states prohibit those without a proper animal control or hunting permit to harm, trap, or kill bats. Bats are an important part of our eco-system, and should never be exterminated unless they are infected with a terminal disease or injured beyond the point of return. And in the case that a bat needs to be put down for injuries or illness, only a licensed wildlife control company has the resources and license to do so legally. So if you have nuisance bats in or around your home, call a licensed bat removal and control service for non-lethal wildlife control services you can trust.

Bat Removal in Louisville

Call 502-553-7622 if you need prompt and professional bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife control specialists that have decades of experience in the bat exclusion industry. We offer full-service bat removal and control, all of which are safe and humane. We never harm or kill bats, and instead, relocate them to a safe and faraway habitat where they can thrive in seclusion. We also offer free estimates, free advice, emergency bat removal, restorations for minor attic damages caused by bats, and much more. Call 502-553-7622 for trusted bat removal and control in Louisville and its surrounding locations.