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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.
Are there kissing bugs in the United States?
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.
Where are kissing beetles found?
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.
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.
Where are there kissing bugs?
Kissing bugs are blood-feeding insects that live in the southern and western United States, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America.
Are kissing bugs found in Florida?
The parasitic ‘Kissing Bug’s’ real name is the Triatomine bug, and it exists here in Florida, and throughout much of the southern United States. (It has been identified in 28 states so far.) The insect got its nickname because they often bite their victims (hosts) on the face- often near the lips, or near the eyes.
What eats the kissing bug?
For over a hundred years, the scientific literature has accepted that these insects feed exclusively on blood. However, this research shows that they also consume sugar and nutrients from fruits.
Are kissing bugs in New Jersey?
Unfortunately, there are now kissing bugs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, meaning that you should be prepared to fight against them. Here’s what you need to know about these dangerous insects.
Are kissing bugs in Maine?
Fortunately, kissing bugs are not found in our part of the world, but instead are mainly found in the Americas, with a few species present in Asia, Africa and Australia.
Do kissing bugs live in Colorado?
Colorado does have kissing bugs. They are nesting bugs, typically associated with rodent nests. The most common species in our state is Triatoma protracta. Colorado’s common kissing bug is capable of spreading Chagas disease but is not very good at it.
Can you squish a kissing bug?
Don’t Squish Kissing Bugs If you see a kissing bug, the CDC advises against touching or squashing it. Put it in a container, and then fill it with rubbing alcohol or freeze it. Then take the bug to a local extension service, health department or university laboratory for identification.
How do you know if you have been bitten 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.
Are stink bugs and kissing bugs the same?
Kissing bugs look similar to stink bugs, but stink bugs are typically smaller and lack the red, orange, or yellow stripes of color that you can see on kissing bugs.
How long can you live with Chagas?
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.
What states have Chagas disease?
State Year reporting began Primary objectives for Chagas disease surveillance Tennessee 2010 Identify source of infection; monitor acute and chronic disease burden Texas 2013 Identify source of infection; monitor acute and chronic disease burden Massachusetts 2008 Monitor chronic disease phase burden.
Are there Assassin bugs in New York?
It hasn’t been found in New York but has been confirmed in neighboring Pennsylvania and has the potential to be in New Jersey, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The CDC said in September the kissing bug was making its way north from South and Central America.
How common is Chagas disease in Florida?
Scientists believe 18,000 people in Florida have Chagas disease, but there is much uncertainty in that number. Florida trails only California and Texas in total estimated cases. “I would suggest it is likely that this disease is significantly underrepresented,” Beatty said.
Is there Chagas in Florida?
Infected triatomine bugs and infected reservoirs, such as raccoons, have been identified in Florida. However, the risk of local transmission to people in Florida is low. There have been cases of local transmission in Texas, Tennessee, California, and Louisiana.
Are assassin bugs in North America?
What is an Assassin Bug? North America, and more than 3,000 worldwide, they all share one notable characteristic: a curved, dagger-like mouthpart known as a rostrum or proboscis, which is used to kill prey.
What is Chagas disease do to you?
Also called American trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease can infect anyone. Left untreated, Chagas disease later can cause serious heart and digestive problems. During the acute phase of infection, treatment of Chagas disease focuses on killing the parasite.
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.
How does the kissing bug locate its human prey?
1. How does the kissing bug (e.g., Rhodnius sp., Triatoma dimidiate ) locate its human prey? These bugs defecate on the person later they bite and ingest blood. If Trypanosome cruzi parasites in the bug feces enter the body through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin that person can get infected.
