A peculiar bug has been making headlines recently, and its name couldn’t be more misleading. The Kissing Bug, more accurately known as a Triatomine, is a medium-sized insect that, like mosquitoes, bites and feeds on blood. However, these bugs are also known to carry a parasite known as Trypanosoma cruzi, and this is the real reason why they’re dangerous. Here’s more on the parasitic bug that’s been spotted throughout the U.S.
CDC The Kissing Bug is a known resident of Latin America, yet lately, this bug has been reported in unprecedented locations throughout the U.S. Typically a Southern insect, the Kissing Bug has been spotted as far north as Rhode Island.
thetechhimself1 / flickr While a majority of these insects are harmless, their bite has the potential to spread the parasite that they carry. This can result in the spread of Chagas disease, which, if left untreated, can be deadly.
Judy Gallagher / flickr Kissing Bugs are nocturnal. They hide during the day and, during the nighttime, awake to feed on prey. The ‘kissing’ component of their name stems from the fact that they typically bite near the mouth and face.
Wikicommons Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can avoid encounters with this bug. Sealing cracks in your home, moving piles of leaves or wood away from the structure of your house, and turning off the lights in your home before sleeping are all helpful tips for keeping the bug at bay.
José Pablo Orozco Marín / flickr It’s important to note that not all those who are bitten by a Kissing Bug will be infected; however, if you are bitten, it’s important to seek medical attention to be absolutely safe. Scratching or rubbing the bite can cause the infection to spread.
Wikicommons Early symptoms of Chagas disease are flu-like, meaning that many of those who have been infected can wait years before understanding the root of their symptoms.
CDC
The Kissing Bug is a known resident of Latin America, yet lately, this bug has been reported in unprecedented locations throughout the U.S. Typically a Southern insect, the Kissing Bug has been spotted as far north as Rhode Island.
thetechhimself1 / flickr
While a majority of these insects are harmless, their bite has the potential to spread the parasite that they carry. This can result in the spread of Chagas disease, which, if left untreated, can be deadly.
Judy Gallagher / flickr
Kissing Bugs are nocturnal. They hide during the day and, during the nighttime, awake to feed on prey. The ‘kissing’ component of their name stems from the fact that they typically bite near the mouth and face.
Wikicommons
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can avoid encounters with this bug. Sealing cracks in your home, moving piles of leaves or wood away from the structure of your house, and turning off the lights in your home before sleeping are all helpful tips for keeping the bug at bay.
José Pablo Orozco Marín / flickr
It’s important to note that not all those who are bitten by a Kissing Bug will be infected; however, if you are bitten, it’s important to seek medical attention to be absolutely safe. Scratching or rubbing the bite can cause the infection to spread.
Early symptoms of Chagas disease are flu-like, meaning that many of those who have been infected can wait years before understanding the root of their symptoms.
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