Do kissing bugs bite cats?

The term Kissing Bug is probably the most common local moniker for these dangerous insects. However, they are also called Mexican Kissing Beetles, Cone Nosed Bugs, or Chinches. Where does the kissing come in? They bite people and pets around the eyes and mouth.


Does Chagas disease affect cats?

Chagas Disease and Cats

Cats are more likely to be carrier hosts for Chagas Disease than they are to suffer acute problems resulting from it. But despite this, the disease can cause some cats to suffer convulsions and/or paralysis of the hind limbs.

Can kissing bugs harm animals?

It has a cute nickname and sounds like a harmless little insect- but the so-called “kissing bug” can spread a disease to both you and your dog which could ultimately be fatal. 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.


Can kissing bugs infest your house?

Triatomine bugs (also called “kissing bugs”, cone-nosed bugs, and blood suckers) can live indoors, in cracks and holes of substandard housing, or in a variety of outdoor settings including the following: Beneath porches. Between rocky structures. Under cement.

What happens if a kissing bug bites a dog?

Chagas Disease in dogs is a big problem caused by a little bug. The bite from the kissing bug may be painful, but in and of itself is no big deal. Infection happens when one of these little critters is itself infected with a tiny protozoan parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi.


Chagas Disease, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment



Do kissing bugs live in beds?

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. In areas where mice or other rodents live.

Can Chagas disease be cured?

Treatment. To kill the parasite, Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole or nifurtimox. Both medicines are nearly 100% effective in curing the disease if given soon after infection at the onset of the acute phase, including the cases of congenital transmission.

What kills the kissing bug?

If you do come across a triatomine, don't kill it, the CDC recommends. Instead, capture it with a container and either fill it with rubbing alcohol or freeze it.


Should I call an exterminator for kissing bugs?

Kissing bugs are a serious problem. If you see one, you need to call a professional pest control company immediately. These pests are often infected with a parasite that can cause humans or the animals they come in contact with to get sick.

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 animal eats kissing bugs?

Kissing bugs are bloodsuckers and seek out mammals including dogs. Dogs eat bugs and will snatch up kissing bugs.


How do you protect against kissing bugs?

Prevention
  1. Seal cracks and gaps in your home to keep bugs out. ...
  2. Keep chicken coops and other animal cages away from your home.
  3. Move piles of leaves, firewood, and rocks out of your yard.
  4. Turn off outdoor lights near the house at night so they won't attract bugs.
  5. Clean your dog or cat indoor beds regularly.


How long does a kissing bug live?

The life span of kissing bugs in North America is approximately a year, perhaps longer for the large southern species, Triatoma recurva. In the temperate zone, there is usually one generation per year, whereas in Mesoamerica and parts of tropical South America, several generations of bugs may occur within a year.

What are symptoms of the Chagas disease in animals?

The clinical signs of Chagas disease are variable and non-specific. Most infected dogs demonstrate subtle signs, such as lethargy (tiredness), decreased appetite, and weight loss. In more severe cases, you may also notice more severe signs, such as fainting, exercise intolerance, vomiting, and diarrhea.


Can cats get diseases from eating bugs?

“The danger from ingesting insects is very small.” Some types of insects can carry parasites that are able to infect cats, like Physaloptera, or stomach worm, but these cases are few and far between. Bugs may also have an irritant effect on the gastrointestinal tract of cats.

How fatal is Chagas disease?

Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis. It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening.

What season do kissing bugs come out?

As the weather heats up in May and June, the adult bugs take flight around dusk to find a mate and a meal. In Tucson, a rise in reported bites for people correlates with this dispersal period, which usually peaks right before the monsoon season. Kissing bugs are often drawn to outdoor house lights.


What does kissing bug poop look like?

Feces may be spread on walls and can be both white and dark, and usually look like stripes. Eggs can be found in wall crevices and are mostly white or pinkish. Consider using an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach including sealing cracks and gaps to prevent kissing bugs from entering your home.

Where do kissing bugs lay their eggs?

Bugs can hide in cracks and crevices in the mattress, bed frame, and box spring. They can spread into cracks and crevices in the room and lay their eggs.

Where do kissing bugs nest?

Any cracks in furniture, walls, or floors are a potential home for kissing bugs, as well as under beds or near pet beds. Kissing bugs will hide in any outdoor debris piles from bricks to leaves, and they can be found close to areas where animals reside, such as outdoor dog kennels.


Do kissing bugs survive winter?

Their northern limit of distribution is likely determined by their intolerance to survive prolonged cold temperatures but reports from Utah and Colorado have shown these insects can be hardy.

Should I be worried about kissing bugs?

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 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.


How do doctors test for Chagas?

The diagnosis of Chagas disease can be made by observation of the parasite in a blood smear by microscopic examination. A thick and thin blood smear are made and stained for visualization of parasites.

How long can you live with Chagas?

About 70-80% of people will remain asymptomatic for life and never develop Chagas-related symptoms. However, an estimated 20–30% of infected people will develop health problems years to decades later that are often fatal.