Kissing Bugs Are True Bugs
go.ncsu.edu/readext?606718
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲In the last couple of months, we have had some phone calls and inquiries about the kissing bug and the Chagas Disease. To learn more about the Chagas Disease visit the Center For Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
Dr. Matt Bertone explains in a blog post that cases of the disease in the United States are rare, and most have been diagnosed by people who traveled here from outside the country.
Instead of using pesticides to control the insect, it is recommended the following strategies for keeping kissing bugs from entering homes:
- Reduce the amount of debris and vegetation directly around the home; wood and leaf piles, stacked rocks and other habitats that attract rodents can also harbor the bugs.
- Repair cracks and gaps in homes; use weather stripping on points of entry such as windows and doors, and make sure window screens are intact and holes are repaired.
- If you suspect kissing bugs are in your home, inspect racks and tight spaces, especially in bedrooms.
- Because lights will sometimes attract kissing bugs, minimizing the number of lights on at night will help to “cloak” homes.
But as Bertone points out, “Although these preventive measures will help reduce the chances of coming into contact with kissing bugs, in reality, it is very unlikely you would ever come into contact with one of these insects anyway.”
In his blog post, Bertone explains there are two species of kissing bugs that are native to the state and feed on the blood of vertebrate hosts. Their name comes from the fact that when the bugs feed on humans at night, they prefer the face, especially the lips and eyes. Their bites don’t initially hurt but often become itchy, swollen, and sometimes painful.
Kissing bugs are around one inch long when fully grown and somewhat flattened when not fed. They don’t have mandibles or chewing mouthparts, but instead, they have a long, straw-like rostrum used to suck liquids.
The sides of their abdomen and thorax are striped, alternating black and orange/red (sometimes even pink in hue), Berton writes, “The legs of kissing bugs are thin compared to most assassin bugs, likely because they do not need to grab prey but instead must be able to move quickly.”