Kissing bugs belong to the subfamily Triatominae, a type of blood-feeding assassin bug. These nocturnal insects garner public attention due to their ability to transmit a parasitic illness to mammals, including humans. They are sometimes called triatomine bugs, a reference to their scientific classification. The name “kissing bug” comes from their tendency to bite near the face, often while a person is asleep.
Confirmed Presence and Range
The presence of triatomine bugs in Ohio is confirmed, though they are considered rare and not widespread throughout the state. The specific species found in the region is Triatoma sanguisuga, also known by the common name Bloodsucking Conenose. Records indicate this species has been a part of Ohio’s ecosystem for decades, with confirmed sightings primarily concentrated in southern counties like Butler, Hamilton, and Warren.
T. sanguisuga is native to the United States and has one of the widest geographical ranges of all North American triatomine species. This range extends from the southern U.S. into Central and South America. While this species is present, its population density remains low compared to regions farther south.
Identifying Triatomine Bugs
Adult kissing bugs measure between 8 and 15 millimeters long and have a distinct appearance that helps differentiate them from other insects. Their bodies are dark brown or black, featuring characteristic reddish-orange or yellow markings around the edge of the abdomen. For the Ohio native T. sanguisuga, these markings often appear as six reddish-orange spots on each side of the abdomen that extend beyond the folded wing margins.
A distinguishing physical feature is their narrow, cone-shaped head, which houses their piercing-sucking mouthparts. They also possess thin legs and slender antennae. In Ohio, the Wheel Bug is often mistaken for a triatomine bug, but it possesses a unique, cogwheel-like crest on its thorax that kissing bugs lack. Other misidentified insects include the Boxelder Bug, which is smaller and features three distinctive stripes on its thorax.
Understanding the Chagas Disease Risk
The public health concern associated with triatomine bugs is their role in transmitting Chagas disease, which is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Transmission does not occur directly through the bug’s bite, as the organisms are not injected into the wound. Instead, the parasite is shed in the bug’s feces, which the insect often deposits near the bite site after feeding.
Infection occurs when the contaminated feces are inadvertently rubbed into the bite wound, a break in the skin, or onto a mucous membrane such as the eye or mouth. The risk of acquiring Chagas disease from a kissing bug in Ohio is extremely low, as the illness is not endemic to the state. Furthermore, the native species, T. sanguisuga, rarely carries the parasite and prefers to feed on animal hosts like rodents and opossums rather than humans.
The species found in Ohio is an outdoor-dwelling insect and does not readily infest human dwellings like the species found in more southern climates. There have been no reported cases of locally acquired Chagas disease in humans or animals within Ohio.
Homeowner Prevention and Reporting
Homeowners can take several practical steps to minimize the chances of encountering a triatomine bug inside their homes. Because the bugs live outdoors, prevention focuses on sealing entry points into the structure.
- Repair or replace damaged window and door screens.
- Seal cracks in foundations, walls, and around utility lines where insects can enter.
- Reduce outdoor habitats near the home, such as removing piles of wood, rock, or brush where the bugs hide during the day.
- Control rodent populations and keep outdoor pet bedding areas clean, as these can serve as food sources and harborage for the insects.
If a suspected specimen is found, it should be collected carefully without being crushed, as crushing could release feces. The recommended method is to place a container over the bug, slide a stiff paper underneath, and then seal the bug inside a container with rubbing alcohol or freeze it. This specimen can then be submitted to local health departments or university extension offices for identification and testing.