Kissing bugs are attracted to body heat, carbon dioxide (CO2), and light, which helps them find sleeping hosts (humans, pets) for blood meals, as well as dark hiding spots and clutter where they can live, often near wildlife nests. They are drawn to the warmth and breath of mammals and are lured to homes by bright outdoor lights and smells from nearby animal dens.
Don't leave windows or doors open without screens. Keep the area under and around your house neat. Remove wild animal nests, piles of branches and wood, and trash so that wild animals stay away from your house. Wild animals can carry the parasite and also be blood sources for kissing bugs.
It's best to NOT squish a bug, but sometimes it happens! After the bug is squished, do not touch the bug with your bare hands. The T. cruzi parasite may be in the feces of kissing bugs, and their bodies may have the parasite on them.
The cause of Chagas disease is the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite spreads from an insect known as the triatomine bug, also called the "kissing bug." The parasite can infect these insects when they swallow blood from an animal that is infected with the parasite.
Only citronella oil was able to stop all probing and feeding by T. rubida. Citronella oil appears to be a promising potential repellent to prevent sleeping people from being bitten by kissing bugs.
Kissing bugs can hide in cracks and holes in beds, floors, walls, and furniture. They are most likely to be found: Near places where a pet, such as a dog or cat, spends time. In areas where mice or other rodents live.
Here's a lineup of fragrant, natural bug repellents that smell amazing to humans, but are offensive to insects:
Triatomine bugs, also known as kissing bugs, are key in spreading Chagas disease. These bugs: Hide in cracks in the walls and roof during the day. Come out to bite and feed on blood.
Some kinds of kissing bugs poop while they are feeding; if a person scratches the kissing bug feces into the bite then the person can get sick. The parasite can also enter the body through the mouth or eye if someone touches their mouth or eye with a dirty hand. Dogs can become infected by eating kissing bugs.
There are several insects that are commonly mistaken for “kissing bugs” that do occur in and around homes statewide, including western conifer-seed bug and masked hunter.
Kissing bugs get their name because these insects often bite people while they are sleeping, and often bite around the mouth or on the face.
If you see a kissing bug in your home or find one crawling on you, do not smash or squish it.
If you do come across a triatomine, don't kill it, the CDC recommends. Instead, capture it with a container and either fill it with rubbing alcohol or freeze it. Then take it to your local health department or university laboratory for identification.
The best way of preventing Chagas disease is to limit exposure to kissing bugs. These insects are most active at night and from May through October when adults are dispersing. They are most common in rural areas.
Because essential oils are sometimes volatile, you can also consider spraying a solution of vinegar and water around your home. Its odor can repel kissing bugs.
Passionate kisses have health benefits
Stress reduction – kissing your partner, either tenderly or passionately, releases calming brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that reduce stress levels and soothe the mind. Foreplay – deep kissing your partner can lead to sexual intercourse.
Chagas disease symptoms
Common symptoms include fever, swelling at the bite site, fatigue, rash, headache, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, or body aches. Some individuals develop painless swelling of the eyelid known as Romaña's sign.
In the heart, the disease can cause enlargement of the heart muscle, leading to heart failure. Other common problems are arrythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. In the gastro-intestinal system, there can be enlargement of the colon or the oesophagus, leading to digestive problems.
Kissing bugs are found in the Americas including the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and South America.
The hardest pests to get rid of often include bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, and rodents, due to their resilience, rapid breeding, ability to hide in tiny spaces, and resistance to common treatments, with bed bugs frequently cited as the toughest due to their elusive nature and insecticide resistance. Eliminating these pests usually requires professional help and persistent, integrated strategies like heat treatment, baiting, sanitation, and sealing entry points, notes.
The two strongest attractants are heat and carbon dioxide, which mimic the warmth and breath of a sleeping human. They also respond to chemical signals, including pheromone trails, that help them follow paths to safe harborages or other bugs.
Showering can help remove any bed bugs present on your skin temporarily, as water and soap can disrupt their ability to cling to surfaces. However, showering alone is not sufficient to eliminate a bed bug infestation, as these pests primarily reside in hidden cracks and crevices within your home.
Yes. Peppermint oil can help deter certain insects because its concentrated aroma interferes with the scent cues many bugs rely on to move, forage and communicate. It is not a replacement for full pest-control systems, but it offers a gentle, plant-powered starting point for light activity around the home.
Yes, citronella candles are effective at repelling mosquitoes and flies. They work by masking the scents that attract insects, like carbon dioxide and body odor, making it harder for bugs to find you. When combined with other essential oils like lemongrass, lavender, and patchouli, the repellent effect is enhanced.
Rub screens with dryer sheets –the more pungent the better. Some homeowners have found this can reduce Stink Bugs entering a home by up to 80%.