SAN ANTONIO – When you get bit by a kissing bug, you may not even know it because the bite isn’t very painful. But experts with Texas A&M AgriLife Research say that bite can affect you down the road because kissing bugs are known to spread Chagas disease. Chagas is caused by a parasite in blood-feeding insects, like kissing bugs. Kissing bugs, when fully grown, are about an inch long and they can live for about a year. To prevent kissing bugs from hanging around your home, clear out any brush or areas where rodents or critters hang around, which are what the bugs feed on.

Researchers said they’ve already collected over 300 kissing bug specimens in one location, where just last year, they only found six. Kissing bugs can grow to be longer than the width of a penny and both their heads and mouths are cone-shaped. Kissing bug compared to U.S. penny. Still, if you have been bitten by a kissing bug, it’s recommended to seek additional medical care for further testing. Read also:‘Kissing bug’ on the rise: Everything you need to know about dangerous infectionJust how deadly is the kissing bug, Chagas Disease?