Bat bug
Bat bugs are parasitic blood-sucking insects that feed primarily on the blood of bats – their hosts. The name has been applied to members of the family Cimicidae (e.g. Cimex lectularius, Afrocimex constrictus) and also to members of the family Polyctenidae.[1] Bat bugs are closely related to bed bugs, and are so similar in appearance that they are often mistaken for bed bugs. Microscopic examination is needed to distinguish them. Bat bugs will also bite humans if given the opportunity.[2] Bat bug species include:
- African bat bug (Afrocimex constrictus)
- Eastern bat bug (Cimex adjunctus)
Anatomy
A key physiological distinction between the common bedbug and the bat bug is the fringe hairs on the pronotum (the upper covering of the thorax), which are at least as long as the width of the bat bug's eye, but shorter in the bedbug.[2]
- ^ David R. Horton. John L. Capinera (ed.). "Minute Pirate Bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)" (PDF). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer Science+Business Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ a b Jones, Susan C.; Kyle K. Jordan. "Bat Bugs". Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet. Ohio State University. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2007-09-22.