These insects are drawn to carbon dioxide in human breath, which explains why they often bite near the mouth or eyes — leaving small clusters of bites on the face. While their natural habitats are wooded areas and rodent or bird nests, they can enter homes through torn screens, gaps, or cracks in walls.

Kissing bugs are most common in South and Central America and Mexico, where they are closely linked to Chagas disease. However, cases are increasingly reported in the southern United States, raising concern about their spread.

How to Identify a Kissing Bug

Because they resemble other insects, kissing bugs can be hard to spot