Although assassin bugs are generally not aggressive towards humans, they may bite if they feel threatened. Their venomous bites are intensely painful and in rare cases they can even cause anaphylactic reactions. Feces from some types of assassin bugs can also spread a parasite that causes Chagas disease.
As with any insect sting or bite, the victim should seek medical attention immediately if there is any sign of anaphylactic reaction, such as generalized swelling, itching, hives or difficulty breathing. Immature assassin bugs are sometimes brightly colored, perhaps to warn that they bite.
Assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) are venomous insects, most of which prey on invertebrates. Assassin bug venom has features in common with venoms from other animals, such as paralyzing and lethal activity when injected, and a molecular composition that includes disulfide-rich peptide neurotoxins.
Assassin bugs are common in Queensland and parts of New South Wales. They are generalist predators with large appetites.
People do not get ill from the bite of the assassin bug, but by scratching a bite site and pushing the infected feces into the open wound. The disease is less common in the U.S. because most homes are built to stop bugs from entering.
Although assassin bugs are generally not aggressive towards humans, they may bite if they feel threatened. Their venomous bites are intensely painful and in rare cases they can even cause anaphylactic reactions. Feces from some types of assassin bugs can also spread a parasite that causes Chagas disease.
This family is also referred to as assassin bugs. But this family of bugs doesn't get the name “assassin” because it transmits Chagas disease (also known as kissing bug disease). They're called assassins because they pierce their prey—think other bugs, caterpillars and flies—with their long mouthpieces.
Assassin bugs especially like mulch, vines, and shrubs. Attract assassin bugs by having plants such as alfalfa, daisies, dandelions, dill, fennel, goldenrod, queen anne's lace, marigolds, tansy. Assassin bugs are attracted to lights. Try having some solar lights in your garden.
Assassin bug adults and nymphs (immatures) have an elongate head and body and long legs. The narrow head has rounded, beady eyes and long, hinged, needlelike mouthparts. Adults and nymphs can walk rapidly when disturbed or capturing prey. Adults tend not to fly.
Kissing bugs have some parts that make them easier to recognize. They have a 'cone-shaped' head, thin antennae, and thin legs. All of the kinds of kissing bugs found in the United States are mainly black or very dark brown, with red, orange or yellow 'stripes' around the edge of their bodies.
Chagas disease is an emerging disease in Australia. GPs are best placed to offer opportunistic Chagas disease screening to those at risk from endemic regions as they are likely to be the first point of contact.
There are more than 160 species in the family Reduviidae (the assassin bugs, ambush bugs, and thread-legged bugs) in North America, many of which are fairly common.
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by an insect called a triatomine bug. Infection is most commonly acquired through contact with the feces of an infected triatomine bug (or "kissing bug"), a blood-sucking insect that feeds on humans and animals.
They are found all over America, but species have also been found in Asia, Africa and Australia. Since kissing bugs feed off the blood of vertebrates, they are found living in close proximity to them.
They are typically found in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America (as far south as southern Argentina). The map below details triatomine occurrence by U.S. state. Triatomines are mostly active at night and feed on the blood of mammals (including humans), birds, and reptiles.
Assassin bugs: 10,000 deaths per year. Scorpions: 2,600 deaths per year. Ascaris roundworms: 2,500 deaths per year. Saltwater crocodiles: 1,000 deaths per year.
According to Science Focus, the Assassin Bug is the 5th most dangerous animal on the planet. This tiny insect is responsible for 10,000 deaths each year.
Unlike other assassin bugs which are considered to be beneficial insects in the garden and feed on other insects and invertebrates, kissing bugs are considered to be pests and most species only feed on the blood of vertebrates.
Assassin, a.k.a. kissing bugs, are found all across the bottom two-thirds of the United States, and predominantly in Arizona, California, Texas, and New Mexico.
Kissing bugs are mostly active during the night. They are called kissing bugs because people used to think that they mostly bite around the mouth or eyes — like a kiss! Kissing bugs do not just bite on the face; they can bite anywhere on the body that they can access.
If untreated, infection is lifelong. Acute Chagas disease occurs immediately after infection, and can last up to a few weeks or months. During the acute phase, parasites may be found in the circulating blood. This phase of infection is usually mild or asymptomatic.