Kissing bugs12/30/2023 Kissing bugs have that name because their bites are. Like mosquitoes, kissing bugs feed on blood from animals or people. ![]() They are also called assassin bugs or cone-nosed bugs. Kissing bugs are dark brown or black with red or orange spots along the edge of their bodies. If you are dealing with a kissing bug issue on your property, contact your local exterminators. Kissing bugs are wingless insects that are about 0.75 in. If you suspect that you or a family member might be allergic to kissing bug bites, see a physician or allergist for treatment options. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), nearly 300,000 people in the United States are infected with the parasite. Kissing bugs carry the parasite that causes Chagas disease, a potentially fatal illness. Some species live in and around human dwellings, where they can transmit the blood parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, responsible for the debilitating Chagass disease. People with certain skin sensitivities to the bug’s saliva may exhibit signs of allergic reactions, such as itching, swelling, and redness, however, bites typically do not result in a local reaction. kissing bug Name given to several American genera of Reduviidae that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Kissing bugs occasionally bite humans in their sleep, generally in spring or summer. They have long, thin legs, while their mouths look like large, black extensions of their heads, which also gives them the nickname cone-nose bug. Kissing Bug Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers Adult kissing bugs measure between 3/4 and 1-1/4 inches in length and can be identified typically by a band around the edge of the body that’s striped with orange or red markings. Kissing bugs come from South America where they swarm in huge quantities in the slums among the poor living in adobe houses and shacks. They are the vectors of the deadly Chagas disease. They are most likely to be found near areas where a pet, such as a dog or a cat, spends time. kissing bugs, assassin bugs, cone-nose bugs, vinchuca bug are flying bloodsucking bugs of Triatominae, subfamily of Reduviidae. In homes, kissing bugs will hide in cracks and holes in beds, floors, walls, and furniture. ![]() Kissing bugs are able to enter homes through open windows or tears on screens. In rural areas, the presence of domesticated mammals and poultry is generally attractive to rodents, which in turn, contribute to the presence of kissing bugs in close proximity to man-made structures. Kissing bugs will inhabit the nests of rodents and other wildlife, and will also fly into barns and homes, feeding on livestock, pets, and people. Occasionally, these bugs will bite their hosts on the face, near the eyes and lips hence they are referred to as “kissing bugs.” Kissing Bug Habitat These insects behave like bed bugs in that they live and deposit their eggs in cracks and crevices in and around man-made structures, then emerge at night to feed upon their sleeping hosts. Primarily nocturnal, kissing bugs are blood-sucking parasites that feed on a variety of invertebrates including humans, as well as both wild and domestic animals.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |