READ MORE: What you need to know on the 'kissing bug' in Colorado. Most species have a very characteristic band around the edge of the body that is striped with orange or red markings. Appearance What Do They Look Like? It can be spread from mother to baby, by blood transfusion and during organ transplants. The "kissing bug," which can transmit fatal Chagas disease, reported in Colorado, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns. The disease can be fatal, though the chances of contracting it are low. Doctors say the kissing bug, also known as the Triatoma sanguisuga, is a silent killer. The Colorado Department of Health and Environment is tracking the presence of a blood-sucking "kissing bug" in the state -- and warning people not to touch them. Kissing bugs can resemble many other bugs naturally present in the United States, such as the Western corsair, leaf-footed bug, and wheel bug. 'Colorado's common kissing bug is capable of spreading Chagas disease but is not very good at it,' according to the health department website. Last week the CDC confirmed an actual sighting in Delaware. The good news for Colorado residents is the species of kissing bug found in Colorado isn’t particularly good at spreading the parasite. You can take precautions against the kissing bug. Kissing bugs are wingless insects that are about 0.75 in. Okay, wait…maybe I don’t love everything about Colorado. They are also called assassin bugs or cone-nosed bugs. Characteristics: These pests are commonly called conenose bugs from their cone shaped heads. Adult kissing bugs, or Triatoma sanguisuga, range from about 0.75 to 1.25 inches in length. All rights reserved. This helpful guide to common Colorado bugs and insects can help identify the exact culprit of a painful bite or sting. These bugs, which feed on the blood of mammals, including humans, are known to spread Chagas disease. They don’t kiss. Staff from the agriculture department preliminarily identified the insect as Triatoma sanguisuga, or the kissing bug. The reason for concern comes not from the insects themselves, rather from their ability to spread a parasitic disease. FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) – A blood-sucking bug that can spread disease and is nicknamed for biting people around their mouths has been sighted in Colorado. Emily Allen reports. In September, the CDC warned that the deadly bloodsuckers were on the move up from Central and South America and had been reported in roughly half of the states in the country. These bugs, which feed on the blood of mammals, including humans, are known to spread Chagas disease. Most people only experience minor symptoms. By Geoff Dempsey , … Kissing bugs are wingless insects that are about 0.75 in. Chronic Chagas disease may result in severe illness. The reason for concern comes not from the insects themselves, rather from their ability to spread a parasitic disease. Only a few cases of Chagas disease caused by contact with the bugs have been documented in the United States. Colorado does have kissing bugs, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Kissing Bugs in Colorado. Colorado does have kissing bugs, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Dogs commonly eat the “kissing bugs” and are at higher risk of infection. Insidious 'kissing bugs' bite Texas woman; she awaits Chagas disease test results, Meet Duke and Dwight, Loveland's flight school hangar dogs, CDC confirms Delaware girl was bitten on the face by a treacherous 'kissing bug', Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Local spread may occur in the U.S., but it is not common. A few months ago we discovered that summer 2019 was going to be notoriously bad for ticks and mosquitoes (you can find a quick recap of that here) and today we are here to deliver even more bad news, as Colorado is being infested with a potentially deadly bug.While this insect may look and sound innocent … Chagas disease is caused by a single-celled parasite. The chronic phase can occur in a small number of people years to decades after exposure. (1.9 cm) long. 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246, Call 303-692-2000 or 1-800-886-7689 If you are using a screen reader and having difficulty please contact the webmaster. Kissing bugs have distinctive mouthparts that appear as a large black extension to the head. "That’s because the bug usually defecates after it is off the person.". Key aspects of a kissing bug… The "kissing bug" – which bites people around their mouth and can pass along the fatal disease Chagas – is making its way north and has been reported in Colorado… If you suspect you have Chagas disease, consult your health care provider. Chagas disease is caused by a single-celled parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi and is most commonly spread in Mexico, Central and South America. They are also called assassin bugs or cone-nosed bugs. The state health department is working to determine the distribution of kissing bugs and if there are other species in Colorado. The acute phase usually goes unnoticed because most people have no symptoms or only have a mild illness that occurs 1-2 weeks after exposure. The "kissing bug" – which bites people around their mouth and can pass along the fatal disease Chagas – is making its way north and has been reported in Colorado. More:Insidious 'kissing bugs' bite Texas woman; she awaits Chagas disease test results. The parasite lives in the bug’s gut and is spread through its feces (poop). Chagas disease has two phases. If you find a kissing bug, use this form to submit it for identification, or call the department at 303-692-2700. Kissing Bug in Colorado Apr 27, 2019 A type of insect that carries the deadly disease chagas has been seen in Colorado, but a CU doctor says there's not much danger of catching the disease. They are typically associated with rodent nests, and the most common variety in the state is the Triatomaprotracta. After the bugs feed they defecate on their host, and it’s the feces, which contains the parasite that enters the bloodstream through the bite wound or from being rubbed by the host into the mouth, eyes or nose. An enlarged heart that doesn't pump blood well. They are very rare and only live in a few sites along the extreme western edge of the state. Kissing Bugs Facts, Identification, & Control Latin Name. 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