June 2024 |Written by: J.K. Peterson, PhD Assistant Professor Medical Entomology University of Delaware Graduate students: Alex Kelley, Hanna Cortes

What is a kissing bug?

Kissing bugs are insects that feed on blood from animals and people. They are native to Delaware and live in wooded areas.

Why care about kissing bugs?

Kissing bugs carry a parasite that causes a disease called Chagas disease. Chagas disease can lead to serious heart problems.

A size comparison of a kissing bug next to a dime

An adult Kissing Bug is ~ 1 inch long

How can I protect myself?

Kissing bugs spread the Chagas parasite through their poop and NOT their bite. For this reason, don’t squish kissing bugs! If you want to kill a kissing bug, put it in a paper towel or plastic bag first.

What if a kissing bug bites me?

Don’t panic- the risk of getting Chagas disease is extremely low. Save the bug if possible! The bug can be tested for the Chagas parasite. Contact the IDEAS Lab.

How to safely handle a kissing bug

DON’T squish it DON’T touch it with bare hands DO use a glove, paper towel, or plastic bag to pick it up DO place it in a sealed bag or container

*Always wash your hands afterwards

This Triatoma sanguisuga was recently found in Delaware *Enlarged to show detail

A chart describing if it is a kissing bug or not

IDEAS Lab

The IDEAS Lab at University of Delaware is studying kissing bugs! Although kissing bugs spread a human parasite, they have never been studied in the northeastern US… until now! We are studying kissing bugs in Delaware to understand the public health risk that they pose in our state.

If you find a kissing bug, you can help by saving it and contacting us at:

KissingBugsDE@gmail.com

This informational page brought to you by the Infectious Disease Entomology Across Scales Laboratory of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology.

Principal Investigator:

J.K. Peterson, PhD Assistant Professor Medical Entomology University of Delaware Graduate students: Alex Kelley, Hanna Cortes

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