Kissing bugs belong to the assassin bug family, Reduviidae. The antonyms imply kiss and kill behavior; however, the common names refer to the feeding behavior of the kissing bugs and the predatory behavior of assassin bugs. We have many native assassin bugs in Ohio, including the notorious Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus), which is commonly mistaken for a kissing bug.
Ohio is home to a kissing bug, which surprised me until I discovered an adult on the side of my Butler County home in 2010. Prior to that, I had always thought kissing bugs were confined to South and Central America, with a few species found as far north as southern Texas and Arizona.
The kissing bug found in our state is Triatoma sanguisuga (family Reduviidae, subfamily Triatominae). The specific epithet, sanguisuga, is drawn from the Latin words sanguis (blood) and sugo (suck). The bug carries a horrible-sounding common name which sounds like a derogatory epithet: Bloodsucking Conenose.
The bloodsucking conenose’s common name comes from its vampire-like feeding behavior and the cone-like structure at the front of its head. Its piercing-sucking mouthparts are housed in a structure called a beak, which is attached to the front of the cone by a hinge. This allows the bug to stow its long beak until it’s ready to swing its mouthparts into action (literally).
Since finding the kissing bug in 2010, I’ve posted several BYGL Alerts drawn from reports confirmed by pictures of the bug being found in and around homes in multiple locations in our state. Indeed, in 2023, I received a specimen of an immature (nymph) bloodsucking conenose collected in Hamilton County, meaning the bugs are reproducing in our state.
However, contrary to some popular reports, the bloodsucking conenose isn’t creeping north; it’s already here. According to a paper published in 1960, the bloodsucking conenose is endemic to the southern part of our state.
Our kissing bug was only given one sentence in the 1960 paper, implying that it is not very common in Ohio. However, exactly how uncommon is the conenose in our state? I’m not aware of any surveillance that’s being done on this kissing bug. So, I began to keep track of the locations of the reports that I’ve received.
Thus far, I’ve received pictures or specimens of the bloodsucking conenose from the following counties: Athens (multiple), Butler (multiple), Clermont (multiple), Clinton (1), Delaware (1), Greene (1), Hamilton (multiple), Montgomery (1), and Warren (1). The distribution of the reports supports the claim in the 1960 paper that the conenose is found in the southern part of Ohio.
Of course, we should be careful with drawing conclusions. The reports may imply the conenose is not as rare as once thought, or it may simply reflect a bias created by the online availability of numerous BYGL postings. It’s common for BYGL Alerts to appear in web search results using keywords that include both “Ohio” and “kissing bug.” In most of my postings, I’ve requested that people report their bug finds by sending pictures, and that’s what they’re doing.
What are the Concerns?
The “kissing” part of the kissing bug name is more accurately associated with members of the genus Triatoma, sometimes called triatomine bugs. These bugs tend to bite near a person’s mouth, like a kiss (don’t think about that too much).
They get away with their cheeky behavior by biting people while they sleep. The bites are usually painless. That’s because the bugs inject a cocktail of several substances through their piercing-sucking mouthparts, including anticoagulants and pain killers. The latter is most likely aimed at reducing death-by-swatting rather than indicating the bugs are considerate of their victims.
However, bites are not without consequences. It’s common for the injected substances to produce a localized allergic reaction in the form of a swollen, itchy bump around the bite site. A rare worst-case scenario occurs if the substances induce a systemic allergic reaction leading to anaphylaxis.
A worse worst-case scenario happens if the bugs are harboring the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi in their gut. The bugs don't inject the protozoan when they bite; they release it from their other end when they defecate (please don’t think about that too much!). Infection occurs if the protozoan is accidentally rubbed into the bug's feeding wounds or onto mucous membranes such as the nasal passages. The resulting protozoan infection is known as Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis.
Much of what I’ve written can sound scary, and this illustrates the conundrum with the bloodsucking conenose in Ohio. How do we provide necessary background information without inciting unnecessary panic? Please read on!
What are the Chances?
Here are some key points about the bloodsucking conenose in Ohio and Chagas disease:
1. Be Careful What You Read on the Web: Several online references list the bloodsucking conenose as a known vector of T. cruzi, the protozoan behind Chagas disease. However, the phrase “possible, but not probable” should be applied when considering whether or not the conenose presents a health threat to Ohioans.
Remember that the bloodsucking conenose has a wide geographical range, from Ohio all the way through Central America and into South America. It is found in locations where Chagas disease occurs, and thus the infectious protozoan is common, all the way to locations where the disease does not occur, like in Ohio. Thus, the true health threat to Ohioans must be viewed in the proper geographical context.
2. There’s No Chagas in Ohio: Chagas disease is endemic to South and Central America, with some infections occurring as far north as southern Texas. The disease is not endemic to Ohio. This means there is no readily available pool of infected people in our state that the bloodsucking conenose can bite to acquire the infectious protozoan.
Of course, there is evidence that the protozoan can be found in animals, including dogs. The term “autochthonous” means disease transmission occurred locally, not through travel to a region where a disease is endemic. However, there have been no reported cases of autochthonous transmission of Chagas disease in Ohio, either from human or animal hosts.
3. We’re Don’t Appeal to the Bugs: There are several species of kissing bugs belonging to the genus Triatoma that are well-known for vectoring Chagas disease. They all have one thing in common. These bugs have a close relationship with people: they target us.
The bloodsucking conenose targets small animals. This is even true in Central and South America, although the infectious protozoan is so widespread that it can even be found in mammals other than humans, including dogs. So, it’s not surprising that the bloodsucking conenose would test positive for the protozoan in that part of the world.
Studies have shown that although the bloodsucking conenose is capable of harboring the protozoan behind Chagas disease, other triatomine bugs are far more accomplished at transmission. This is not to say our conenose lacks competence, it’s just not as good at it.
4. Accidental Home Invaders: The bloodsucking conenose may wander into homes located near its food or follow its food into homes. Every confirmed report that I’ve received in Ohio about bloodsucking conenoses coming into a home had one thing in common: The homes were located in a wooded area where we would expect there to be large numbers of small wild animals (= conenose food). Indeed, the homeowners in several affected homes reported they were battling mice coming into their homes.
What Should Ohioans Do?
1. Practice Prevention: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of worry. Potential bug entry points should be caulked or otherwise closed. This includes sealing gaps around doors and windows as well as closing holes in attics, basements, or crawl spaces.
2. Stay Alert: Homeowners living in or near wooded areas should be on high alert for small furry friends seeking to share their domicile, particularly if a bloodsucking conenose is found on the hunt inside the home. Homeowners should react quickly by taking direct action, for example, if mice are a problem inside the home, and taking indirect action by removing debris or thick vegetation near the home that may harbor small animals.
3. Don’t Over-React: The bloodsucking conenose appears to be a relatively rare insect. Thus, insecticide applications are not needed, particularly if steps 1 and 2 are followed.
4. Apply Common Sense: The chances are minuscule of contracting Chagas disease from our bloodsucking conenose in Ohio. However, this is what you should do if you find a bloodsucking conenose in or around furniture in your home, coupled with you or a family member showing clear evidence of being bitten. First, don’t smash the bug. It should be collected and preserved by putting it in a container that’s placed in a freezer. Freezing will kill it, but it won’t destroy the protozoan.
It’s also a good idea to snap a few pictures of the bug to speed up getting a confirming identification. You can send them to me. Just click on my name at the top of this Alert to get my email address.
Second, a bite from a kissing bug should lead to a visit with a primary care physician regardless of concerns over Chagas. Remember that the bug bites may produce an allergic reaction beyond just raised, itchy bumps. It’s important to seek medical attention.
Finally, there’s another important reason to involve your primary care physician. Our public health system relies on receiving reports from medical professionals to determine if there’s a developing public health threat. To my knowledge, there is no active surveillance to determine if our bloodsucking conenose in Ohio harbors the protozoan behind Chagas disease, perhaps acquired from biting an infected animal. I’m not sounding an alarm, but the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. That’s why it’s important to involve the medical and public health community.
Selected References
Beatty, N. L., & Klotz, S. A. (2020). Autochthonous Chagas disease in the United States: how are people getting infected?. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 103(3), 967.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7470559/
Beatty, N. L., White, Z. S., Bhosale, C. R., Wilson, K., Cannella, A. P., Stenn, T., ... & Wisely, S. M. (2021). Anaphylactic reactions due to Triatoma protracta (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) and invasion into a home in Northern California, USA. Insects, 12(11), 1018.
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12111018
Beatty, N. L., Hamer, G. L., Moreno-Peniche, B., Mayes, B., & Hamer, S. A. (2025). Chagas Disease, an Endemic Disease in the United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 31(9), 1691.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/9/24-1700_article
Bern, C., Messenger, L. A., Whitman, J. D., & Maguire, J. H. (2019). Chagas disease in the United States: a public health approach. Clinical microbiology reviews, 33(1), 10-1128.
https://doi.org/10.1128/cmr.00023-19
Busselman, R. E., & Hamer, S. A. (2022). Chagas disease ecology in the United States: recent advances in understanding Trypanosoma cruzi transmission among triatomines, wildlife, and domestic animals and a quantitative synthesis of vector–host interactions. Annual review of animal biosciences, 10(1), 325-348.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-013120-043949
Burgos, L. M., Farina, J., Liendro, M. C., Saldarriaga, C., Liprandi, A. S., Wyss, F., ... & Baranchuk, A. (2020). Neglected tropical diseases and other infectious diseases affecting the heart. The NET-Heart Project: rationale and design. Global heart, 15(1), 60.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7473196/
Killets, K. C., Wormington, J., Zecca, I., Chaves, L. F., Hamer, G. L., & Hamer, S. A. (2025). Comparative feeding and defecation behaviors of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected and uninfected triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from the Americas. Insects, 16(2), 188.
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16020188
Lynn, M. K., Bossak, B. H., Sandifer, P. A., Watson, A., & Nolan, M. S. (2020). Contemporary autochthonous human Chagas disease in the USA. Acta tropica, 205, 105361.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105361
Masters, C. O. (1960). Arthropods of medical importance in Ohio. The Ohio Journal of Science, 60(6): 332-34.
https://kb.osu.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/156757d8-0e7f-532c-a643-2ece58ec51aa/content
Torhorst, C. W., White, Z. S., Bhosale, C. R., Beatty, N. L., & Wisely, S. M. (2022). Identification of the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, in multiple tissues of epidemiological significance in the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana): Implications for environmental and vertical transmission routes. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16(12), e0010974.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010974