The cone nosed bug, or kissing bug, is usually not a stand-alone problem in the Southwestern United States. It is associated with the nests of nearby rodents–most often those of pack rats or other feral rodents known to live in and around the Arizona Desert. Beginning in spring, these bugs will be attracted by external light sources around dusk. They will take advantage of small gaps around doors and windows, entering through openings in flooring from crawlspaces and then into homes. From there, they will migrate to dark, quiet areas like closets or between mattresses and box springs to wait.
In the evening, they will emerge and take a meal from their host, feeding during the night on the exposed areas of their host not covered by tightly fitting clothing or sheets. This allows them to attach themselves and feed for up to ten minutes at a time and take a full meal. The anesthetic the kissing bug naturally produces numbs the host during feeding, and the host will often not feel the wound until later in the night or the next day! The bite will then usually turn itchy and red. Some people will exhibit multiple red bites in clusters as a result of moving during feeding, while others will have larger single bites. In severe cases, people experience anaphylactic reactions to the bites and require immediate medical attention.
University Termite & Pest Control’s Signature Service Program is, in part, specifically designed to address all the issues surrounding kissing bugs. We attack all facets of the kissing bug problem.
- We identify all existing rodent populations, eliminate their populations, and keep remote nesting sites well away from buildings.
- We inspect and document to ensure that all doors, windows, and other entrances are well-sealed and monitored. This will keep unwanted insects from gaining entrance to your home.
- We use products specifically designed to be resistant to elements of the weather. This will keep the kissing bug away from your home and out of your living area.
- We recommend the use of “bug” lights to limit the attractiveness of your home to insects. This will prevent kissing bugs from being drawn to your structure during times when they are most active.
