Kissing bugs, or triatomines, are blood-feeding insects that bite humans and animals at night. “Their saliva contains a numbing agent,” so people often don’t feel the bites, which usually appear around the mouth and eyes due to the bugs’ attraction to carbon dioxide.
These insects typically live in wooded areas or animal nests but can sneak into homes through cracks or torn screens.
They’re most dangerous in South and Central America and Mexico because they can transmit Chagas disease. Although not every bite leads to infection, “kissing bugs are associated with Chagas disease,” a serious illness that can cause long-term heart and digestive issues.
To prevent infestation, it’s important to seal entry points and keep sleeping areas clean and protected.
