Is that a kissing bug hungry for blood or is it a case of mistaken identity?

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Blood-sucking insects are on the prowl but some people may be mistaking them for a different type of bug that is only hungry for plants.

Triatomines, more commonly known as kissing bugs, are something that some people may have heard of before. Known for their bad habit of feeding on human and animal blood, kissing bugs resemble more infamous bed bugs in several ways such as emerging at night and hiding during the day in tight spaces, according to American Pest Management.

Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also report these bugs can spread the potentially deadly Chagas disease through the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi or T. cruzi. However, a Kansas insect expert says many people may be mistaking these bugs for a far less dangerous insect.

Entomologist Raymond Cloyd with Kansas State University said kissing bugs are found just about everywhere in the Sunflower State. On many occasions, he thinks people are confusing them for something else.

“The issue we run into is people confuse squash bugs for triatomines,” Cloyd said. “They do look very similar… but they’re not the same insect.”

Anasa tristis, or squash bugs, can usually be seen feeding on leaves, stems, vines and fruits during the warmer months, according to K-State. Unlike kissing bugs, their diet doesn’t include blood.

Cloyd said he has receive calls from people mistaking squash bugs for kissing bugs. He encourages people who aren’t sure about what kind of bug they’re dealing with to reach out to his office or contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Kansans shouldn’t worry too much about the kissing bugs and the Chagas disease they’re known to carry. Cloyd said that while the bugs can spread this potentially deadly disease, no human cases have been confirmed yet in the state.

“We have not had any documentation that I have seen of the Chagas disease in Kansas.,” Cloyd said.

Kissing bugs have a preference for biting areas near the eyes and lips on humans. Cloyd said that, after the initial bite, the bugs will defecate. Protozoa parasites in the fecal matter, T. cruzi, then spread into the victim, leading to the Chagas disease.

“Just because they’re here, doesn’t mean they’re carrying the disease,” Cloyd said.

You can reach out to the K-State Department of Entomology by clicking here. You can learn more about kissing bugs by heading to American Pest Management’s website.

For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf