Record Numbers Of Kissing Bugs Spotted Across Texas

Kissing bugs are nothing new here in Texas, but their latest numbers certainly are! Experts have noticed more of the disease-carrying insect than usual, and the Lone Star State is a major breeding ground.

Kissing bugs are nocturnal, bloodsucking insects that exist in at least 28 states. 11 different species have been identified, with the highest concentrations in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Flickr/José Pablo Orozco Marín

About 50% of kissing bugs serve as hosts for the Chagas parasite, which can transmit to humans, dogs, and other mammals. Infection occurs when the insect bites a mammal and defecates near the wound immediately thereafter – the parasite lives in the bug’s gastrointestinal tract and is shed in fecal matter.

Flickr/Glenn Seplak

Higher-than-average numbers of kissing bugs have been spotted in the Lone Star State lately, according to experts from Texas A&M University. Although the exact cause is unclear, it likely has something to do with a change in weather patterns.

Flickr/Lane Pearman

In humans, Chagas disease can either develop suddenly or lie dormant for decades. Acute symptoms include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. Roughly 30% of those infected are at risk for chronic complications such as enlarged heart, heart failure, altered heart rate, cardiac arrest, and digestive issues due to enlargement of the esophagus or colon.

Flickr/Emil .

Consumption of infected kissing bugs can also lead to Chagas disease, so dogs are more likely to contract the illness than humans. Canine health impacts also involve the heart, however many dogs never show symptoms. Several factors, including the dog’s age, activity level, and the genetic strain of the parasite, all influence the severity of complications.

Flickr/llee_wu

Small animals like rodents and rats attract kissing bugs. Upon reaching adulthood, the insects disperse and often end up outside homes – especially if a dog kennel is present.

Flickr/Susan Young

To protect your family, keep the lights off around the home and dog kennels. You should also remove any wood or rock piles and repair holes in or around screens, attics, and crawl spaces.

Flickr/Alan Levine

Additionally, you should never touch a kissing bug with bare hands. Thoroughly clean any objects it may have touched with a bleach solution.

Flickr/Marco Verch Professional Photographer and Speaker

Click here to learn more about kissing bugs.