What is the'kissing bug'?
The "kissing bug" – which bites people around their mouth and can pass along the fatal disease Chagas – is making its way north and has been reported in Colorado, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Can kissing bugs spread disease to pets?
Colorado’s common kissing bug is capable of spreading Chagas disease but is not very good at it. That’s because the bug usually defecates after it is off the person. If you or your pets may have been bitten by a kissing bug, call your healthcare provider or veterinarian.
What kind of bugs are in Colorado?
Zelus luridus, a common species of assassin bug that feeds on insects in many yards and gardens. Figure 7. Western conifer-seed bug is a common nuisance invader of homes in Colorado in autumn. A harmless insect, it is frequently mistaken for a “kissing bug”. Bee assassin (Apiomerus species).
What to do if you find a kissing bug in Denver?
If you find a kissing bug, the health department asks that you fill out this form online to submit for identification or call them at 303-692-2700. You can take precautions against the kissing bug.
Where are kissing bugs in Colorado?
Only one species of “kissing bug” has ever been found in Colorado, Triatoma protracta (western conenose). Western conenose is rare and restricted to rural areas, usually near nests of packrats (woodrats).
Where is kissing bug located?
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.
How do you tell if a bug is a kissing bug?
KISSING BUGS — How to identify 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.
What bugs can be mistaken for kissing bugs?
Indeed, wheel bugs and a few other true bugs continue to be misidentified on social media as kissing bugs. Two of the most common faux-kissers appearing on social media are boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittata) and western conifer seed bugs (Leptoglossus occidentalis).
What percentage of kissing bugs carry Chagas?
Up to 60% of kissing bugs carry the parasite that causes Chagas, compared with only 0.1% of mosquitos that carry dengue, an infectious disease occurring in tropical areas. Although more than half of kissing bugs carry the disease-causing parasite, Hamer said it's still difficult for a person to be infected.
What do Chagas bites look like?
Chagomas look red and swollen. If the T. cruzi parasite enters your body through the conjunctiva, it may cause swelling of the upper and lower eyelid. This response is known as Romaña's sign.
What happens if you touch a kissing bug?
Kissing bugs can transmit a parasite that leads to a potentially serious illness called Chagas disease. Most cases of Chagas disease occur in Latin America. Although infection directly from exposure to the kissing bug is rare in the US, it is still important to take steps to prevent kissing bug bites.
What happens if you get bit by a kissing bug?
The skin near the bite might become red, swollen, and itchy. The most serious risk is anaphylactic shock. That's when your blood pressure drops and you have trouble breathing. It can be deadly if you don't get emergency treatment.
What do you do if you find a kissing bug in your house?
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.
Can kissing bugs bite through clothes?
Their bites are gentle and painless, and usually occur while the victim is asleep. They are generally unable to bite through clothing. On humans, blood meals are sometimes taken from the tender areas of the face (hence the name “kissing bug”).
What attracts the kissing bug?
Adults fly well and are attracted to lights after dark. In suburban and rural Arizona, kissing bugs are often attracted to porch lights. At dawn, they may seek a way to avoid sunlight and heat, and may enter a residence through a doorway gap, or cracks around window screens.
What's the difference between an assassin bug and a kissing bug?
The kissing bug belongs to the Reduviidae family of insects. 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).
Are kissing bugs in the US?
Kissing bugs live throughout North America, Central America, and South America. In the United States, kissing bugs have been found in 29 states. All shaded states in the map have at least one kissing bug found there.
What attracts the kissing bug?
Adults fly well and are attracted to lights after dark. In suburban and rural Arizona, kissing bugs are often attracted to porch lights. At dawn, they may seek a way to avoid sunlight and heat, and may enter a residence through a doorway gap, or cracks around window screens.
What do you do if you see 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.
How do you keep kissing bugs away?
Some procedures to prevent kissing bugs include the following:Caulk around openings for utility lines, plumbing pipes, and cables.Change porch lights to "bug light" bulbs.Close exterior doors tightly.Inspect pets for these bugs in their fur.Move firewood piles away from the house.More items...
What are the same bugs as assassins in Colorado?
Colorado Insects of Similar Appearance to Conenose/“Kissing” Bugs. There are several kinds of other true bugs that commonly occur in Colorado that are often mistaken for “kissing bugs”. Most of these are related insects in the same insect family as are the “kissing bugs” – the assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).
How many assassin bugs are there in Colorado?
There are at least 23 species of assassin bugs that occur in Colorado. All others, except the western conenose, develop as predators of other insects and do not feed on blood of mammals. Many are important as natural enemies of insect pests in crops and forests.
What are the names of the assassin bugs?
Other names for these insects are “kissing bugs” or “bloodsucking conenose bugs”. All of the conenose bugs are a type of assassin bug, placed in the subfamily Triatominae, and most of the species are in the genus Triatoma. Therefore, these bugs are sometimes referred to as “triatomines”. The only species of triatomine known to occur in Colorado is ...
What is the only bug that eats rodents?
Figure 1: Adult of the western conenose, Triatoma protracta, the only “kissing bug” that is known to occur in Colorado. Conenose bugs ( Triatoma species) are insects that feed on the blood of various wild animals, particularly rodents. Mammals are their most common hosts but they will occasionally feed on birds and reptiles.
Where are bee assassins found in Colorado?
Three species of bee assassins occur in the state and they are most commonly found in rangeland areas, versus urban sites. They are never found within homes. Zelus luridus. The most common assassin bug found in yards and gardens in many areas of Colorado is Zelus luridus (no common name).
Where do conenose bugs live?
Conenose Bugs (“Kissing Bugs”) in Colorado. As a group, conenose bugs are most common in the tropical areas of the Americas. They do occur in some parts of the United States, predominantly in the southern states.
When do conifer seed bugs come out?
It is one of the most common of the insect “nuisance invaders” that wander into Colorado buildings during autumn, rivaling the notorious boxelder bug in this regard The western conifer-seed bug is usually found indoors from September through November, but may survive indoors into the winter.
What is the most common kissing bug in Colorado?
They are typically associated with rodent nests, and the most common variety in the state is the Triatomaprotracta. "Colorado’s common kissing bug is capable of spreading Chagas disease but is not very good at it," according to the health department website. "That’s because the bug usually defecates after it is off the person.".
Why are kissing bugs potentially dangerous?
Doctors say the kissing bug, also known as the Triatoma sanguisuga, is a silent killer.
How do you know if you have Chagas disease?
If a person contracts the disease, symptoms typically include severe redness, itching, swelling, welts and hives, CDC officials say. It can be spread from mother to baby, by blood transfusion and during organ transplants. More: Insidious 'kissing bugs' bite Texas woman; she awaits Chagas disease test results.
What is the name of the bug with a black mouth?
Kissing bugs have distinctive mouthparts that appear as a large black extension to the head. These mouthparts give rise to the nickname "cone-nose bug.'
How to protect yourself from kissing bugs?
How to protect yourself. You can take precautions against the kissing bug. The CDC recommends locating outdoor lights away from dwellings such as homes, dog kennels and chicken coops and turning off lights that are not in use.
What is the color of the box elder bug?
Most species have a very characteristic band around the edge of the body that is striped with orange or red markings. They look similar to a bug Coloradans are very familiar with — the box elder bug. One species (Triatoma protracta) may or may not have a single colored band around the outer edge of the body.
Do kissing bugs have long legs?
One species (Triatoma protracta) may or may not have a single colored band around the outer edge of the body. The legs of kissing bugs are long and thin. Unlike some other species, the legs are uniformly thin along the length of the leg, and there are no "bulging" thicker areas.
How long is a kissing bug?
The "kissing bug" measures approximately 1-inch long and boasts distinct features like orange and red stripes, long and thin legs, and a distinct, cone-like mouth.
Is Colorado infested with mosquitoes?
A few months ago we discovered that summer 2019 was going to be notoriously bad for ticks and mosquitoes (you can find a quick recap of that here) and today we are here to deliver even more bad news, as Colorado is being infested with a potentially deadly bug. While this insect may look and sound innocent enough, its bite can be fatal, which is why we recommend keeping your eyes peeled for the “Kissing Bug.” Here’s what you should know:
What are some bugs that resemble triatomine?
They include the wheel bug and the western corsair. Some plant-feeding bugs, such as the leaf-footed bug, also resemble the triatomine. If you are unsure if the bug you've found is a triatomine, you may wish to consult with an expert, such as an entomologist for clarification.
Can you get Chagas from a bug?
All that said, it's really not that easy to get Chagas from a triatomine bug, the CDC says.
Do triatomine bugs have Chagas?
Also, the CDC said, not all triatomine bugs are infected with the Chagas-causing parasite.
