The primary hosts of bat bugs are a variety of bat species, especially the big and little brown bats, which roost in colonies, but they can feed on warm-blooded creatures, including humans in the absence of bats.

Bat bugs are often encountered inside a structure when bats are established in attics, wall voids, unused chimneys, or any uninhabited places of the building.

Typically, bat bugs are found in cracks and crevices in bat roosting areas.

If the primary hosts (bats) leave the nesting area, die or are eliminated, bat bugs start moving inside a structure within one to four weeks to feed on alternative hosts. Although uncommon, these include birds, rodents and humans.

Once in living places and having found a host on which to live, bat bugs will become established the same way as bed bugs.

They will hide in mattresses and box springs, bed frames and furniture. Additionally, they will spread the same way as bed bugs.