Kissing Bug

Pests

Quick comparison to distinguish kissing bug from boxelder bug at a glance. Both are common in parts of North America but differ in behavior, risks, and management.

health

A kissing bug bite often appears as a localized, red swelling or wheal, sometimes with a central punctum from the bug’s feeding mouthparts. The surrounding skin may be slightl...

entomology

If you live in or visit Maine and see a large, nocturnal insect with a characteristic cone-shaped head, you may be seeing a kissing bug. True kissing bugs (Triatoma species) are...

pest_vectors

Kissing bugs, also called triatomine bugs, are blood-feeding insects associated with rural and peri-urban areas of the Americas. In New Mexico, reports center on regions where s...

health-and-wellness

Kissing bugs, also called triatomine bugs, are blood-feeding insects associated with Chagas disease, a potentially serious and long-term infection. While most people associate t...

infectious-disease

Chagas disease can be fatal, but most people infected do not die from it if the infection is recognized and managed appropriately. Most infections are mild or asymptomatic, yet...

health

A kissing bug bite on the face typically occurs near the lips or eyes while a person sleeps. These insects, also called triatomines, feed on blood and may leave a swollen, itchy...

Pest And Home Environments

Kissing bugs, insects that can carry Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, are found in parts of the United States, including Indiana. While not widespread...