Beware the Kissing Bug: Pest Control, Kennedale, TX Pros’ Recommendations

As we all know, Texas is one of those states where bugs, insects and pests feel like home and thrive to worrying numbers. While we are primarily concerned with lawn and landscape bugs, we cannot overlook the fact that the kissing bug has set Texas on fire because of the Chagas Disease cases that are associated with the kissing bugs. Sometimes called the “Assassin Bug” or the “Deadly Bug”, the kissing bug received plenty of media attention lately – with its mix of fact, myth, and fear. Our lawn care Kennedale, TX specialists are here today to clarify some things about the kissing bug – and especially its prevention and control.

How Dangerous are Kissing Bugs?

These critters, officially known as Triatoma, are easily recognizable by the 12 orange spots around the edges of their bodies. It is hard to mistake a kissing bug for a common cockroach, especially since Triatoma has a cone-shaped head and a pear-shaped body.

As dangers are concerned, kissing bugs do bite people’s faces and soft tissue when they sleep (as Triatoma is a nocturnal insect), but the actual transmission of T. cruzi (founding the Chagas Disease) comes from the bug’s feces and people’s tendency to scratch the bite wound.

Indeed, kissing bugs are a danger to people, especially kids and pets. The bug basically acts like a mosquito or a tick – it sucks on your blood and it begins hunting after the sunset. They enter your home through windows and cracks and are unseen companions of small wildlife that might find shelter on your property.

What Can You Do to Prevent Kissing Bugs from Thriving?

There are certain insecticides that can keep kissing bugs away from your property, thus preventing them from entering the house. The problem with kissing bugs is that they are quite hard to find in plain daylight, as they are nocturnal. However, your pest control, Kennedale, TX specialists can tailor a preventative strategy to make sure the bugs won’t approach the house. Some of the efficient Triatoma repellants are cyfluthrin, permethrin, bifenthrin, or esfenvalerate.

Other preventative methods include:

• Have your pest control specialists remove all mice, rats, raccoons or squirrels nests from your property or home (basement, attics)
• Always keep your pets bedding clean and make sure to check on their fur regularly
• Keep pets sleeping at night inside the house after thorough checkups on their fur and health conditions
• Repair and seal all your home cracks
• Seal and insulate openings for utility lines, plumbing pipes and cables
• Fix windows and doors and replace torn insect mesh and weather stripping
• Keep all your wood, rock and brush piles, trash cans and debris away from your house
• Keep your property neat, clean and tidy to discourage infestations
• Have your lawn care Kennedale, TX specialists inform you about bug lights to replace regular landscape lights in your garden or on your porch
• If you found such a bug in the house, outdoor structures or outside in the garden make sure you vacuum, clean and use pest control measures to keep both the lawn and the house clean – focusing on entry points and hiding places.

Keep in mind that kissing bugs are most active during summer and early fall when we tend to live and sleep with our windows open. While the CDC is still researching Triatoma and Chagas, it is far better to prevent any issues than require medical attention.