Are Kissing Bugs Harmful?

Kissing bug against a white background in Mississippi

Kissing bug against a white background in MississippiThough kissing bugs may sound cute, theyโ€™re far from it. These nocturnal insects get their charming nickname from their less-than-charming habit of biting people in the middle of the night โ€“ usually around the mouth. If it isnโ€™t bad enough to picture bugs crawling on your face while you sleep, these pests are also capable of causing serious health issues for humans and animals. So, what exactly are kissing bugs, and how can you keep them out of your home? The experts at Southern Pest Control explain everything you need to know down below.ย 

What Are Kissing Bugs?

Kissing bugs, also known as assassin bugs or triatomine bugs, are small parasitic insects that feed on blood. They prey on sleeping people or animals, which is why they typically hide in bedroom furniture or pet beds. Though kissing bugs are usually solitary, females will leave eggs behind, which can cause ongoing problems for homeowners. If you discover any triatomine bugs in your house, itโ€™s important to contact a pest control professional to screen for signs of additional insects.

How to Identify a Kissing Bug

Triatomine bugs are small insects that have thin antennae, thin legs, and a cone-shaped head. They are oval-shaped, dark in color, and usually measure between ยฝ to 1 inch. Their most defining feature, however, is a row of orange or yellow stripes around the edge of their body.

Why Are Kissing Bugs Dangerous?

Itโ€™s never fun to discover insects in your home, but kissing bugs are more than just bothersome. Their bites may not be particularly painful, but they can lead to infections or serious illnesses such as Chagas disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Chagas disease can be life-threatening or lead to long-term health consequences for both humans and animals. If you suspect you or a pet has been bitten by a kissing bug, watch for these early signs of Chagas disease:

  • Warmth or swelling around the bite
  • Fever, fatigue, or body aches
  • Swelling eyelids or swollen glands
  • Loss of appetite or nausea
  • Headaches

How Do Kissing Bugs Cause Chagas Disease?

Kissing bugs are known for carrying a small parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, which lives in their digestive tract after feeding on an infected animal. The parasite isnโ€™t spread directly through the saliva of a triatomine bug; rather, it travels through their feces. Most insects will leave behind excrement after feeding, which sleeping victims may accidentally rub into their open bite wound.ย 

Tips for Preventing Kissing Bugs

Triatomine bugs are unpleasant and dangerous. The best way to protect yourself and your pets from harm is to prevent these pests from getting indoors in the first place. To keep kissing bugs out of your house, follow these tips:

  • Keep your door and window screens in good condition
  • Seal any cracks or gaps that could lead into your home
  • Tidy up your landscaping and remove debris near your house
  • Keep yard lights farther away from your home entrances
  • Allow pets to sleep indoors, especially at night
  • Periodically check bedrooms and pet beds for signs of bugs

What to Do if You Discover a Kissing Bug

Kissing bugs are creepy, and theyโ€™re the last thing you want to find inside of your house. However, if you come across one of these insects, do not come into contact with the kissing bug โ€“ even to squash it. Doing so could expose you toย Trypanosomaย cruzi, which may put you at risk of developing Chagas disease.ย 

Instead of squishing the bug, place a transparent container over the bug. After sealing it in, contact a pest control professional. An expert will be able to confirm the identification and assess your home for any remaining pests.ย 

If you need help with a kissing bug โ€“ or any other type of pest โ€“ turn to Southern Pest Control, Inc! We understand how distressing an infestation can be, which is why our number one goal is to provide you with 100% peace of mind that your space is bug-free. As a trusted pest control provider for 45 years, Southern Pest Control is committed to being the leader in Mississippi Gulf Coast’s pest control industry. To get help fast, call us today and get a free quote!

Strangest Insects 3

Goliath Beetle in the Mississippi gulf coast; Southern Pest Control

strangest insects

 

Strangest Insects -Here is the final of our 3-part series on the Strangest Insects in the World. Today we will focus on the last 4 of these amazing creatures.

We at Southern Pest Control hoped that you enjoyed these series of articles on the Strangest Insects in the World.

Here are the last 4 of the strangest insects in the World.

Driver Ants

Driver-Ants

If you have watched movies where unsuspecting travelers are swarmed by aggressive ants and gruesomely killed, then you have seen stories inspired by driver ants. Attack just one, and the entire colony of up to 20 million ants will take it really personally. They can kill and devour small animals and larger invalid animals (including humans). Their bite is powerful and their jaws will remain locked even if you tear an ant apart and kill it. To this end, natives use them for emergency sutures for wounds.

Assassin Bugs

Assassin-Bugs

This broad category of insects has an unusual and rather alien attack method. Their mouth tubes allow them to stab their prey and inject them full of a liquefying toxin. This numbs the prey and turns their innards into fluid. The liquid dinner can then be sucked back up through the mouth tube.

 

Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird-Moth

Even if you steer clear of insects, there is a good chance youโ€™ll find the hummingbird moth adorable. This moth has evolved to resemble a hummingbird with a fat body and a convincing โ€œtailโ€ protruding at the back. Their wings can beat incredibly fast, which adds to the impression that they are in fact a bird. The moths are diurnal, which means they are active during the day, another reason they are regularly mistaken as hummingbirds. On a similar note, check out the snake caterpillar for another insect that bares a shocking resemblance to another organism.

 

Bees

bees

Bees? The strangest insects in the world? We see bees all the time, which has somewhat inoculated us to their oddness, but letโ€™s face itโ€”bees are really odd, and we do not understand how they function at all. They are able to coordinate with each other even across distances, and appear to psychically communicate. Nobody knows exactly how beehives work, but each hive behaves more like a single individual than a colony of individuals. Bees clearly have a very different way of life than anything we can imagine as human beings.

Remember if you have any unwanted pests or animals around your home or offices please call us at 800 527-9832. We have been helping folks like yourself in the Gulf Coast area for over 35 years.

Strangest Insects 2

Hummingbird Moth in the Mississippi gulf coast; Southern Pest Control

strangest insects

 

We at Southern Pest Control hoped you enjoyed the article we had on 3 of the Strangest Insects in the World. Today we will continue with 3 additional of these interesting creatures.

There are more than 900,000 species of insects known, and likely there are millions more (scientists can only estimate). Insects account for about 80% of the species living on planet Earth. In a very real sense, this planet belongs to them.

Here are 3 ย more of the strangest insects in the World.

Goliath Beetle

ย Goliath-Beetle

Yes, insects can get even bigger. This beetle can grow up to four inches in length, and weighs even more than the locust described above. They are native to Africa and are sometimes kept as pets. They love protein, and can be fed dog or cat food or even baby food. Keeping a Goliath Beetle may hold some of the same appeal as keeping a tarantula, without the need to feed it mice.

 

Hercules Beetle

Hercules-Beetle

This beetle may not be the largest on the planet, but it is the strongest. Not only is it the strongest insect on the planet, but it is also the strongest animal, period. It can carry up to 850 times its own weight on its back.

 

Twisted Wing Parasite

Twisted-Wing-Parasite

This little fly is quite a menace in the insect world. As a larva, it waits around for a bee or wasp to come along. Then it jumps on board and burrows into the host insect. Once there, it morphs into a male or female second-stage larva. The male will burst out and go look for a mate. The female will remain inside the host, and only poke out her genitals. Once she is impregnated and lays her eggs, the cycle begins again.

ย 

We at Southern Pest Control again hope that you found this to be interesting. Remember if you have any unwanted pests or animals around your home or offices please call us at 800 527-9832. We have been helping folks like yourself in the Gulf Coast area for over 35 years.

Strangest Insects

Strange looking Insect in the Mississippi gulf coast; Southern Pest Control

 

Brazilian-Treehopper

Strange Insects -If you want to encounter a life-form on Earth which will challenge your views of what it means to thrive in the universe, look no further than the insect class of the animal kingdom. There is a reason that many of the aliens featured in our science fiction literature and films resemble insects. We find them very unusual, because their lives, appearances, and habits are so far removed from our own.

And yet, there are more than 900,000 species of insects known, and likely there are millions more (scientists can only estimate). Insects account for about 80% of the species living on planet Earth. In a very real sense, this planet belongs to them.

Here are 3 of the strangest insects in the World, we at Southern Pest Control hope you find this interesting.

 

Brazilian Treehopper

Brazilian-Treehopper

Whatโ€™s going on with this critter? Scientists do not honestly even know. It has a number of peculiar appendages on its back which turn out to be hollow chitin balls. Their purpose? Completely unknown at this point. It is one odd looking insect, and we still have no idea why it looks the way it does.

 

Flower Mantis

Flower-Mantis

Reach to pick one of these colorful little flowers and you will probably shriek with surprise when you realize that what you really have in your hand is a creepy crawly known as the Flower Mantis. This mantis can come in many different colors and shapes. Some species have what looks like two huge eyes sticking up on topโ€”just more coloration (like you would find on a mothโ€™s wings). You might still find it as a as a flower, if you arenโ€™t a xenophobeโ€”and even more delicate. Orchid mantises are widely considered quite beautiful.

ย 

Little Barrier Island Giant Weta

Little-Barrier-Island-Giant-Weta

If you are squeamish and not a fan of locusts and the like, you will probably want to steer clear of the Little Barrier Island of New Zealand. Here you can find one of the biggest insects in the world, measuring 3 and a half inches in length and weighing 2.5 ounces. Yes, that is about the size of your hand.

We at Southern Pest Control hope that you found this to be interesting. Remember if you have any unwanted pests or animals please call us at 800 527-9832. We have been helping folks like you in the Gulf Coast area for over 35 years.