Kissing bugs, also known as conenose bugs, might sound harmless due to their peculiar name, but they pose serious health risks to humans and pests. They’re known to bite and suck blood from their victims, potentially transmitting a deadly illness called Chagas disease. As a homeowner, it’s vital to understand these insects before learning how to get rid of kissing bugs in your home or around your property.
So, how do you kill a kissing bug? First, let’s learn how to identify and then look into the steps you need to take to eliminate them and prevent future infestations.
Kissing bugs have a distinctive appearance, with a dark brown or black body and red or orange stripes along the edges of the body. They’re typically one inch long with a flattened, oval-shaped body and a long cone-shaped head and beak that they use to pierce the skin of humans or pests. They tend to bite exposed areas of skin and have a similar bite to mosquitos and bed bugs that form small red, swollen spots that may itch and cause allergic reactions.
To understand how to get rid of kissing bugs, it’s crucial to identify where they hide. As they’re primarily nocturnal, they mostly feed on sleeping mammals and hide in dark, cluttered areas in and around homes, especially near potential entry points. Common hiding sports include:
Once you’ve identified kissing bugs in your home, it’s time for effective removal. We’re going to focus on a DIY approach that combines different methods to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Before using any treatments, consider setting light traps or bait stations that attract kissing bugs. These can be set in common areas where they hide, like pet houses, room corners and edges, and window and door frames, making it easier to target them with your preferred control and elimination method.
Use a strong vacuum cleaner to remove eggs, nymphs (immature stage), and adult kissing bugs inside and around your home. Pay close attention to the areas mentioned above. Keep your home clean, and ensure pet sleeping areas are regularly vacuumed and cleaned, too.
For this, you’re going to use a two-prolonged approach. The first one involves using insecticide dust to apply a thin layer of residue in cracks and crevices, behind headboards, and around potential entry points. Be sure to follow the instructions on how to get rid of kissing bugs on the product label while paying close attention to safety precautions.
The second step is using targeted aerosol sprays to eliminate bugs directly from contact. This option is best used for spot treatment in areas where you’ve seen kissing bugs. Some of the most effective pesticides and insecticides for controlling these bugs include wettable powders or insecticide formulations or pyrethroid insecticides such as deltamethrin, cypermethrin, or cyfluthrin, which are all fast-acting and have low toxicity to mammals.
Kissing bugs are more likely to become a persistent problem if they can easily enter your living space. As part of learning how to get rid of kissing bugs, here are some preventative steps you can take:
Now that we’ve answered the question “how do you kill a kissing bug?” with our tips on how to get rid of kissing bugs, it becomes easier to take control of an infestation and keep your home bug-free. At DIY Pest Warehouse, we provide a wide selection of DIY pest control products, including insecticides and sprays, to help you eliminate kissing bugs and other pests. Shop now.
