Tag: kissing bug

western conifer-seed bug - Leptoglossus occidentalis

Not a Kissing Bug: Invasive Western Conifer-Seed Bug Causes Undue Alarm

As the western conifer-seed bug has arrived in South America, its resemblance to kissing bugs has caused a stir, as members of the public have readily mistaken the two. Researchers in Chile recommend accessible identification keys and educational materials to better inform both health professionals and the public.

Entomology Today August 7, 2019 2 Comments

Kissing Bugs Kiss Their Hiding Spots Goodbye, Thanks to Tiny Radio Transmitters

In a new pilot study, researchers in Texas used miniature radio transmitters to track the secretive movements of kissing bugs, a method that could provide new advances in reducing kissing bugs' impact as a vector of Chagas disease.

Argentine Researchers Develop Artificial Attractant for Kissing Bugs

By Ed Ricciuti Despite its name, the pop-eyed insect known as the “kissing bug” is anything but affectionate, at least when it comes to people. Its name is derived from […]

Bacteria Can Be Used for RNA Interference in Insects

Bacteria in the gut of disease-bearing insects — including the mosquito which carries the Zika virus — can be used as a Trojan horse to help control the insects’ population, […]

Risk of Chagas Disease in Texas May Be Higher than Previously Thought

Most assassin bugs feed on other insects, but conenose bugs in the genus Triatoma are assassin bugs that feed on vertebrates, including rodents and sometimes humans. They usually bite people […]