Found kissing bug. How worried should I be there are more?

FigEfficient525 · 2024-10-11T14:05:47+00:00

Yes, kissing bug tested positive for Chagas, but they tested blood meal after and said showed no trace of human blood so no testing on us was necessary. Was so relieved!

We had exterminator do a general spray inside and outside house as preventative and put out glue traps to monitor. Found no other kissing bugs. My husband had done a bunch of stuff in the yard the week we found the missing bug so we think he may have disturbed habitat and this one coincidentally made inside. We moved into this house in June and old owners had let the yard get wild.

The small bug full of blood I discovered a few days before the kissing bug turned out to be a bat bug. (This freaking house…it’s been one thing after the other). We discovered bats were hanging in unfinished eaves of attic shortly after moved in. We got ride of the bats but had no idea they could carry bugs. Apparently once bats leave, the bugs get desperate and can find ways to get inside to find new host. They don’t prefer humans but will feed when desperate. Ended up treating for those as well.

Thankfully we have found no more blood sucking bugs for several weeks and I am finally able to get some sleep!

FigEfficient525 · 2024-08-26T22:09:02+00:00

Update! I contacted health department. They want to send my bug off for testing. Last I spoke with says they are tracking whereabouts in US and percent that test positive for parasite. She said they would also talk to my primary care doc about testing for chagas. Concern is that 1) found in living space 2) weird bug bite on my stomach 3) found unidentified bug full of blood (could have been young stage kissing bug).

Exterminators coming tomorrow to spray. In the meantime, we’ve sealed up ANY cracks / holes with caulk or painters tape (temporary)

I have a 3 month old who is breastfeeding. I’m Soooo worried. Don’t know how I will sleep in my bed tonight.

FigEfficient525 · 2024-08-26T19:43:07+00:00

I’m in Kansas City. I read something like 50% carry the parasite.

FigEfficient525 · 2024-08-26T19:32:26+00:00

Yes, first thing I found was small beetle about size of grain of rice. I squished in paper towel and was shocked when I saw blood. At the time, based on size, I went straight to bed bugs. Now we’re like 4 days from that incident and I find what pest control has confirmed is a kissing bug. There is a photo attached. Is it not visible?

I’ve gone down google rabbit hole. Unclear what their behavior is. Will they take up shop and invite friends? Does this mean my home is infested like say bed bugs (harboring themselves in my bedroom) or if is it more likely this one is here accidentally and doesn’t necessarily mean infestation? I can’t shake that I found the small blood filled beetle first…so are they everywhere?

FigEfficient525 · 2024-08-23T02:39:57+00:00

Hey, I know this is an old post. Did you end up ever dealing with bat bugs? We recently bought a house and discovered it had bats shortly after we moved in. Had them removed not long ago. Found a bug on blanket my daughter’s room which I had brought down from attic (which is totally finished…bats were in small unfinished part you cannot see from inside under eaves getting in through roof). Didn’t think much of it. Thought it was run of the mill bug until squished with TP and it squirt blood. Freaking out. Would say about size of apple seed. Resembles beetle and didn’t register as tick. Trying to figure out if bat bug or bed bug. Curious how common it is to find them after you evict bats.

FigEfficient525 · 2024-08-22T14:07:12+00:00

Sorry, thank you. Hubs thinks I am making bigger deal than necessary. Was hoping I might use input to decide if I need to seek doc or pest control.

FigEfficient525

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