Kissing Bugs

We need to be aware of kissing bugs, AKA conenose bugs, assassin bugs and Mexican bedbugs. A bite from one of these bugs can result in anaphylaxis in sensitive individuals. There are about 15 species of kissing bugs (genus Triatoma) in the U.S. and they are found in the southwestern states. The true kissing bugs from South America will come into bed at night and bite a person on or around their lips. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale. The species found in NM aren’t as romantic and will bite you anywhere there is bare skin or loose fitting clothing.

Adults are ½ to 1 inch long, brownish-black, broad, flat, but stout-bodied, with 6 reddish-orange spots on each side of the abdomen, above and below. It has an elongated, cone-shaped head, from which it derives its nickname, conenose bug. The beak is slender and tapered and almost bare. Its wings are normally folded across the back while resting or crawling and not usually noticed by the casual observer. These insects will feed on any animal, including humans, but they prefer rodents, particularly packrats in our area. If a packrat has a midden (nest) near your house, the kissing bugs may find their way inside and hide under furniture, between mattresses or in closets during the day. At night, they venture out in search of a blood meal, which may be a sleeping pet or human.

The bite of the kissing bug is painless because its saliva contains an anesthetic. People are usually awakened by itching, swelling, rapid heart beat, or other reactive symptoms caused by the bite and not when they are bitten. A full blood meal requires an average of ten minutes, and the numerous bites the victim sees may be due to a disturbance during feeding, which causes the insect to reinsert its proboscis, the tubular feeding structure. As mentioned earlier, anaphylactic reactions may occur, with weakness, sweating, nausea, abdominal cramping, vaginal bleeding, and vascular collapse. It should be noted that individuals who are bitten often develop a greater sensitivity to the bites. In South and Central America, kissing bugs are vectors of chagas disease. Some people find the bites on their bodies and assume they have bed bugs.

In order to control these insects, you need to inspect your property periodically. During the daytime the kissing bugs seek dark places to hide, so look beneath flower pots and outdoor furniture, especially those that sit nearly flush with the ground. Check your sheds, garage, and under porches. All cracks and openings into buildings should be sealed as completely as possible. Entry into the home does not require a large opening. They are attracted to light, so keep your curtains closed at night so they aren’t attracted to your indoor lights. Make sure your doors close tightly and your windows and screens are not loose.

If you find a packrat nest you should remove it. Use a shovel and put the nest material in a trash bag and dispose of it. Then treat the area with a safe product such as Greenbug (made from cedar). You can also put a light layer of diatomaceous earth over the area. This will not only kill any kissing bugs in the nest, but also any other ectoparasites that may be present. What other ectoparasites do they carry? There are 107 species of fleas in NM and packrats can be host to up to 37 species. Approximately a third of all the flea species in NM are vectors of the plague and the most troublesome species is Oropsylla montanus as it causes more plague than any other species of flea. This species of flea prefers squirrels, but also likes packrats. So you need to treat any nesting areas you find so kissing bugs and possible plague fleas can’t attack you or your pets.

After removing the nests, put some cotton balls soaked in peppermint essential oil in the area to discourage the packrats from rebuilding their nests in the same area. Hopefully they will just leave your property.

On another note, I am expanding membership in the Bugman’s Bug Club to include commercial buildings, so if you are a homeowner or business owner and you are interested in learning how to manage pests Safely and Effectively, you can contact me at askthebugman2013@gmail.com for information on how to join the Club.