One popular, natural way to get rid of kissing bugs is to use a few drops of essential oils, such as citronella, which is a promising repellent according to one study. Mix with water into a spray bottle, and spray it liberally in areas where they congregate. While this won't kill them, it will repel them.
Only citronella oil was able to stop all probing and feeding by T. rubida. Citronella oil appears to be a promising potential repellent to prevent sleeping people from being bitten by kissing bugs.
Pyrethrin. Pyrethrin is an organic insecticide that you can use to kill kissing bugs. It has proven to be fatal because it targets their nervous system. As a result, they become paralyzed and eventually die.
Sealing cracks and gaps around windows, walls, roofs, and doors. Removing wood, brush, and rock piles near your house. Using screens on doors and windows and repairing any holes or tears. If possible, making sure yard lights are not close to your house (lights can attract the bugs)
Kissing bugs can be attracted by light. Consider turning off lights near homes and kennels at night. Seal cracks and gaps to prevent kissing bugs from entering your home. Check windows, walls, roofs, and doors.
It's best to NOT squish a bug, but sometimes it happens! After the bug is squished, do not touch the bug with your bare hands. The T. cruzi parasite may be in the feces of kissing bugs, and their bodies may have the parasite on them.
If found inside the home, kissing bugs are often in: Bedrooms; under or near mattresses or night stands. Near pet beds. Areas of rodent infestation.
Insecticide applications on the outside property can help keep kissing bugs from entering the home. Your local pest control professional can select the appropriate insecticides according to the situation. Your Pro may also remove any animal nesting sites that may attract these bugs.
The skin near the bite might become red, swollen, and itchy. The most serious risk is anaphylactic shock. That's when your blood pressure drops and you have trouble breathing.
The life span of kissing bugs in North America is approximately a year, perhaps longer for the large southern species, Triatoma recurva. In the temperate zone, there is usually one generation per year, whereas in Mesoamerica and parts of tropical South America, several generations of bugs may occur within a year.
A simple combination of hot water, dish soap, and white vinegar is suggested to be an effective "trap" for stink bugs. (Farm & Dairy recommends filling a spray bottle with 2 cups of hot water, 1 cup of white vinegar, and 1/2 cup dish soap, then spraying the bugs directly.)
Treatment. To kill the parasite, Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole or nifurtimox. Both medicines are fully effective in curing the disease if given soon after infection at the onset of the acute phase, including the cases of congenital transmission.
Since they hide in dark, sheltered locations during the day, they can be hard to find, but at night, they'll be drawn to the tempting light of an indoor bug zapper – which will annihilate them upon contact. Simply set up your bug zapper in a location where kissing bugs might hide out.
Clove, peppermint, thyme, rosemary, and citronella oil are just a few essential oils that can help keep bugs away.
Those most closely associated with repellency are citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, and catnip oil, but others include clove oil, patchouli, peppermint, and geranium.
Peppermint
One of the most researched solutions for keeping bed bugs away is peppermint. This plant can provide a smell which bed bugs and other pests hate. The scent will drive any pest which will keep your home pest-free and fresh at the same time.
Chagas disease is an emerging disease in Australia. GPs are best placed to offer opportunistic Chagas disease screening to those at risk from endemic regions as they are likely to be the first point of contact.
Their bites are gentle and painless, and usually occur while the victim is asleep. They are generally unable to bite through clothing. On humans, blood meals are sometimes taken from the tender areas of the face (hence the name “kissing bug”).
Chagas disease is endemic in 21 countries in the Americas, and affects approximately 6 million people. In the Americas, Chagas disease show an annual incidence of 30,000 new cases average, 12,000 deaths per year, and approximately 9,000 newborns become infected during gestation.
Scented objects can be used to repel bed bugs. Lavender, VapoRub, and other products with certain chemicals are effective natural bed bug repellants.
Around each bed leg, spread a thick layer of petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline®) in a band at least 2 inches wide and about 6 inches off the floor. Bed bugs cannot crawl through this barrier.
Therefore, strong scents such as perfume will have no effect on an existing or future bed bug infestation.
Unlike their loving name, kissing bugs are a type of pest called a reduviid bug, known to bite and suck blood from their victim's face (as well as other body parts). They can transmit a potentially deadly disease called Chagas Disease, sometimes known as “kissing bug disease.” Learn more about Chagas Disease.
Kissing Bugs or Conenose Bugs are similar in habits to Bedbugs, but when fully grown are much larger and have well developed wings. Adults can be up to 3/4 inch in length.
Kissing bugs have a simple life cycle of three stages, egg, nymph, and adult. Nymphs look like small, wingless adults and feed on blood to grow. Adult kissing bugs are good fliers and fly at night to find mates and hosts. Females lay eggs after feeding.