Kissing bugs, also known as Triatomine bugs, are blood-feeding insects that can carry the parasite responsible for Chagas disease. These insects are a type of assassin bug, named for their habit of feeding near the mouth or eyes of sleeping hosts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the presence of kissing bugs in over 30 states, including Indiana, establishing them as part of the state’s natural fauna. Understanding their appearance and the associated disease risk is important for public awareness.
Presence and Identification of Kissing Bugs in Indiana
The kissing bug species Triatoma sanguisuga (the eastern bloodsucking conenose) is native and documented across Indiana. These insects are typically active from May through October when the weather is warmer. They can be found in various outdoor habitats, often residing around wood piles, beneath porches, in rock or brush piles, and occasionally in outdoor kennels and rodent nests.
Identifying a true kissing bug requires careful observation, as they are often confused with several harmless insects common to the area. An adult kissing bug is relatively large, measuring between 0.75 and 1.25 inches in length, roughly the size of a penny. A defining feature is their narrow, cone-shaped head and long, thin legs that lack any noticeable bulges.
The body of the adult is typically dark brown or black, often featuring distinctive orange or reddish-yellow stripes or patches along the edge of the abdomen. This coloration often leads to misidentification with look-alikes, such as the boxelder bug or squash bug. Unlike a squash bug, which has a short, triangular head, the kissing bug possesses a prominent, straight, black mouthpart extending from its cone-shaped head.
Understanding the Transmission of Chagas Disease
Kissing bugs are carriers of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the pathogen that causes Chagas disease. Transmission is indirect and does not occur through the initial bite, which is often painless. The parasite is found in the bug’s feces, and infection happens when the bug defecates near the bite wound while feeding.
The parasite enters the body when a person unknowingly rubs the fecal material into an open wound, a break in the skin, or a mucous membrane, such as the eye or mouth. Although these bugs are present in Indiana and may carry the parasite, the risk of human transmission is considered very low. The state has not reported any locally acquired human cases of Chagas disease, partly due to modern U.S. housing construction limiting insect infestation.
Chagas disease presents in two phases: acute and chronic. The acute phase follows the infection and may last for weeks or months, often causing mild, non-specific symptoms like fever, body aches, fatigue, or a rash. In some cases, a sign known as Romaña’s sign, which is swelling of the eyelid, may occur at the site where the parasite entered the body.
The chronic phase can last for decades, and most infected individuals remain asymptomatic. However, about 20 to 30 percent may develop severe complications primarily involving the heart and digestive system. This can lead to an enlarged heart, heart failure, altered heart rhythms, or gastrointestinal issues such as an enlarged esophagus or colon.
Prevention and Action Steps
Taking specific steps to prevent these insects from entering your home is the most effective defense against potential exposure. Sealing cracks and gaps in walls, foundations, windows, and doors is an important measure to deny entry to these nocturnal bugs. Ensuring that all window and door screens are intact and well-fitted provides a necessary physical barrier.
Reducing outdoor harborages near the home is also recommended, as kissing bugs prefer to hide in debris, wood piles, and under rocks. Since the insects are attracted to lights, minimizing the use of outdoor lights at night, especially near entry points, can help deter them from approaching the structure. Regularly inspecting pet sleeping areas and outdoor kennels is also advised.
If a bug suspected of being a Triatomine is found, it is important to follow a specific protocol for safe collection. Do not touch or crush the insect, as crushing it could potentially release the parasite. Instead, place a container on top of the bug, carefully slide it inside, and secure it.
Preserve the insect by filling the container with rubbing alcohol or freezing it to allow for later identification. The next step is to report the finding and submit the specimen to a local extension service, the health department, or a university entomology laboratory for confirmation.