What states have kissing bugs?

Most of the world’s kissing bugs are in Central and South America and Mexico. They’ve also been found in the United States in the lower 28 states, with higher concentrations in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Kissing bugs have been spotted a far north as Delaware, Ohio and Pennsylvania.Jul 11, 2019

Where are kissing bugs located at?

Kissing bugs are found in warm southern states of the U.S. and in Mexico, Central America, and South America. 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.

How do you tell if a bug is a kissing bug?

– a long, oval shaped body with six legs.
– a thin, cone shaped head with long antennae.
– a light brown to black body.
– yellowish to red or tan markings on their bodies.

What happens if you touch a kissing bug?

Do not touch a kissing 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.

How do you know if you got bit by a kissing bug?

Kissing bugs can cause patches of bites, often around the mouth. The bites are usually painless, but they may swell and look like hives. Itching from the bites may last a week.

Can a kissing bug kill a human?

A biting insect prone to chomping on lips — unofficially dubbed the “kissing bug” — has become a terrifying menace after researchers revealed that up to 30 percent of its victims develop life-threatening health problems, including heart disease and sudden death.Aug 25, 2018

Can a kissing bug make you sick?

Kissing bugs are a ‘vector’ because they can carry a parasite that can make people and animal sick. The parasite is Trypanosoma cruzi, and it causes Chagas disease. The number of infected kissing bugs varies from location to location.

Should I kill a kissing bug?

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.May 3, 2019

What bugs are mistaken for kissing bugs?

Recently, the commonest look-alike I’ve been getting reports of is the masked hunter bug (Reduvius personatus), which can also be encountered indoors. If you aren’t familiar with masked hunter bugs, there’s a good reason why these insects can sometimes mistaken for kissing bugs—they’re technically kissing cousins.Jul 31, 2019

How do you identify a kissing bug?

Kissing bugs are generally light brown to black, but some have red, yellow, or tan markings on their abdomen. Kissing bugs have six legs, antennae, are about ½ ”-1” long, and often resemble a more oval and elongated cockroach. Three species of kissing bugs that can be found in Texas.

Is it a kissing bug or something else?

Triatomine bugs (also called “kissing bugs”, cone-nosed bugs, and blood suckers) can live indoors, in cracks and holes of substandard housing, or in a variety of outdoor settings including the following: Beneath porches.

Why can’t you squish a kissing bug?

Squashing or even touching a kissing bug can put you at risk of contracting Chagas. The best thing to do, Hill advised, is to trap the bug in a plastic bag or container. “We don’t want to squash the bug or get any bug poop on us.

What do you do if you find a kissing bug?

If you find a kissing bug, the CDC recommends you do not touch or squash it. To help understand the problem and how many carry the disease, the CDC is asking for help. They suggest you place a container on top of the kissing bug for 24 hours, and then seal the bug inside the container.

Are there kissing bugs in the US?

Kissing bugs are found throughout the Americas. In the United States, kissing bugs are found in 29 states. Eleven different kinds of kissing bugs are in the United States. Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are the states with the most different species and most findings of kissing bugs.