What causes bed bugs? Do they only feed on humans? It is common knowledge that bedbugs feed on humans, but what most don’t know is that they feed on animals too like dogs, cats, birds and so on.
Bed bugs can be annoying and can be a nuisance around the house. They stealthily take over your home without you knowing, and they attack at night when you are asleep to feed on your blood.
Humans aren’t only the source of blood meal for bed bugs. There are several species of bed bugs, and each species has its preference when it comes to its source of the meal. Some prefer birds; others prefer poultry animals and so on. As part of their adaptability features, most bed bugs can feed on any source of blood available to them, if their preferred source of blood isn’t available.
Most common species of bed bugs?
Cimex lectularius is the most common species of bed bugs associated with humans. They feed primarily on human blood. These bed bugs are commonly found in places where humans are found. The blood they feed on, enables them to grow and produce offspring.
If you ever find any bed bugs in your home, there is a high possibility that the bed bug is Cimex lectularius. But don’t forget that there is also a possibility of other species like bat bugs infesting your homes. Bat bugs belong to the same family as bed bugs. Bat bugs are called Cimexadjunctus; they mostly feed on bats. But just like the Cimex lectularius, they can also feed on the blood of humans and other mammals. When it comes to reproduction, they must have bat blood.
It is essential you correctly identify which of the Cimex species is infesting your home. Each species has its habitats and habits. As it is with most bed bug infestation, more than 70 percent of the bed bugs will be found near the bed bug area.
Bat Bug or Bed Bug?
Some people would not even realize their house is infested with bats until they spot bat bugs. A typical bat bug infestation is found in common hiding place for bed bugs such as wall void or attic. Effective control would involve the removal of bat bugs and the bat themselves.
When it comes to feeding, bed bugs are only in for the blood. Blood is essentially the balanced diet of bedbugs. To accurately identify whether you are battling bat bugs or the common bed bugs that feed on humans, you would need the services of a professional pest controller. They can quickly identify which species you are battling with by looking at the length of hairs and size of eyes. To learn more on how to treat bed bugs “click here”
