If you ever get stung, DON’T IGNORE the bite—it can be quite serious. Here’s what they are and what you should do

Kissing bugs, also known as triatomines, are blood-feeding insects that are active at night. These nocturnal creatures bite both humans and animals while they sleep.

During the daytime, kissing bugs stay hidden in dark, secluded areas. At night, they emerge in search of a blood meal, and their bite is often painless due to a numbing substance in their saliva.

They are drawn to the carbon dioxide that people exhale, which leads them to bite near the mouth and eyes. This often results in noticeable bite clusters on a person’s face.

Kissing bugs usually live in natural environments such as wooded areas and animal nests, particularly those of birds and rodents.

However, they can make their way into homes through small gaps, cracks in walls, or damaged window and door screens, increasing the risk of human contact.

These insects are especially worrisome in regions like Central and South America and Mexico, where they are linked to the transmission of Chagas disease, a potentially serious illness.

Due to their ability to live both outdoors and inside human dwellings, awareness and prevention are important in areas where kissing bugs are common.