kissing bug
Kissing Bugs can be deadly! Actually called a Bloodsucking Conenose. Sometimes called a mexican bedbug but that is just a colloquialism, as is the 'kissing bug' name. Sometimes called eastern or western Conenose due to slight variations in color from region to region. This one does look like it could be eastern, common in Florida, but in all forms happens from coast to coast in the US, and North to Canada. If you are bitten, they are known for carrying diseases. One of these insects led to the death of the Artist Chagas.(Chagas Disease)
This disease is rare in the US but common in Central-South America. Most males have the probiscous folded back and under the abdomen in a crevase that runs down the middle of the abdomen, very unusual.
Usually shy they attack at night when the victum is asleep, they are very hard to remove from a home and are rather insecticide resistant, best bet is to try to find their crevace and physically remove them.
1 response
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Mia Pelosi said (5 Oct 2008):
I wonder why the shape on its back mimics a smaller version of its self? Maybe the shape is the size of its mate- making the male/female appear smaller and less threatening or the shape is the size of its enemy, making it feel safe before it is killed.
Cool bug. Like a fancy tick.
