Assassin bugs are predators that feed on other insects, so they inhabit trees and grassy areas where they can hunt bees, flies, caterpillars, and more. This makes them helpful bugs to have in gardens because they can provide free pest control. However, they can enter homes through tears in screens, open doors and windows, and other cracks and crevices.
The Dangers
Assassin bugs generally don’t bother people but they can bite if they feel threatened. Their bites are venomous and extremely painful. They can be treated by washing the area, applying antiseptic cream, and taking over-the-counter painkillers. However, seek professional medical attention if there are any changes to the skin or if there are symptoms of an allergic reaction like itchy hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Kissing Bugs
Kissing bugs fall into the same family as assassin bugs but they are not the same. For one thing, they present a unique type of danger. While assassin bugs can deal a nasty bite, kissing bugs can infect humans with a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. Not all kissing bugs contain the parasite but about half of them have one in their gut. The parasite can cause the rare but potentially fatal Chagas disease, which involves symptoms like headaches, fever, fatigue, rashes, swelling around the eyes, and aching around the body.
When kissing bugs feed on people, they tend to creep up on them while they’re sleeping, bite around the mouth area, suck their blood, and excrete on their faces. So if the bug contains the parasite and the person wakes up and gets the excretion into their orifices or bite wounds, they can get infected. Although Chagas disease is treatable, it can be life-threatening if left unattended, especially for people with weakened immune systems. The symptoms are similar to many other benign conditions — or there may be no symptoms — so it may be difficult to know if a person has the infection or not. Therefore, it’s important to prevent bugs from entering the home if this species is local. But bear in mind, this condition is rare.
Assassin Bug Infestation
If assassin bugs or kissing bugs infiltrate your home, contact a professional exterminator to get rid of them as soon as possible.
If you wake up with a bite, it might be difficult to know what bug did it. So look around for a bug that might be the culprit. Wearing gloves, catch the bug, place it in a plastic bag or container, and freeze it so a lab can test it for an infection if needed. Label it with the date, time of day it was found, and where it was found.
Prevention
Remember, most people in the U.S. don’t need to worry about assassin bugs or kissing bugs. Even so, the best way to treat an infestation—of any kind—is by preventing one. So if you see bugs convening around your yard, be sure to install door sweeps, fix torn screens, replace weather stripping, and seal cracks in walls. Keep chicken coops, dog kennels, and other outdoor animal cages away from your house if possible, and clear away piles of wood, rocks, and leaves. At night, turn off the outdoor lights so they won’t attract any unwanted visitors. Remember to wear protective clothes and apply insect repellent when venturing into the great outdoors.
