Skip to Main Content

Six things you probably don’t know about kissing bugs

The Center for Disease Control recently issued a memo regarding the presence of the Triatoma sanguisuga insect in 12 states, including Indiana. Triatoma sanguisuga is better known by its common name, the kissing bug. Kissing bugs, which are common in Central and South America, can carry Chagas, a parasitic disease. The CDC estimates roughly 8 million people in South America are living with Chagas disease, which in its early stages produces flu-like symptoms but can become chronic or even fatal if left untreated.

 

1. The risk posed by Chagas in Indiana is very low.

Cate Hill, professor of entomology, said despite the kissing bugs’ presence in Indiana, the chances of contracting Chagas are very low.

“Species of kissing bugs can feed on lots of different vertebrates, whether that’s dogs or humans or various forms of wildlife,” Hill added. “They are less prevalent in the United States, in part, because of our housing construction. Most of our housing does not have cracks and crevices where the bugs could gain entrance or hide.” Screen doors and windows act as an effective barrier against the insect.

 

2. Chagas is not spread through the kissing bug’s bite

There are several misconceptions about kissing bugs, Hill continued, and perhaps the most common is that the insects transmit Chagas through their bite, like the way a tick spreads Lyme disease.

“If you have an infected bug feeding on you it is likely to defecate during the feeding process,” Hill said. “The feces can contain the parasite and if this is rubbed into the wound or introduced to the mucosal membrane then infection is possible. Chagas is not transmitted through the bite.”

Featured Stories

Izaak working with bee hives
Cultivating the Future: Izaak Gilchrist

The spider hanging upside down from the corner of your room and the silverfish that crawled out...

Read More
Dave Case delivers a keynote speech
FNR Names Dave Case as 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources is proud to name Dave Case as its 2023 FNR Lifetime...

Read More
Purdue College of Agriculture.
Student draws welcomed attention to Agronomy department through social media

Ruby Slentz was featured in a Purdue Agronomy promotional video released this month, gaining very...

Read More
Maya Fulton stands against the Continuum sculptures outside of Lynn Hall.
How an entomology student made her veterinary school dreams a reality

As a first-year student in the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine, Fulton has quickly become...

Read More
Student Matthew Haan stands with another person in front of mountains in the Philippines
Horticultural and Landscape Architecture student discusses summer research and training in the Philippines

With limited international travel experience and a student’s budget, Matthew Haan was...

Read More
corn silk
Stalk and Ear Rots: The Importance of Identifying Them Now to Help with Harvest Decisions

It is now time to evaluate fields for any stalk or ear rot symptoms. This will aid in making...

Read More
To Top