Hurricane Season = Mosquito Season

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Hurricanes bring devastation with them with their high winds and excessive rainfall. Even after the storm has passed, they leave a wake of destruction in their path. On top of the damage to personal property and people’s lives, hurricanes also create another menace, breeding grounds for mosquitoes! Mosquitoes are not just a nuisance, they also carry disease. What species do we find in Florida, and what can you do to make them QUIT biting you? Read on to find out.

One of the more commonly encountered mosquitoes is the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which is an exotic, invasive mosquito now found throughout the Florida peninsula and panhandle.  The Asian Tiger Mosquito is known to transmit several diseases including West Nile Virus.  There is also some indication they may be able to carry the Zika Virus.  This species lays its eggs in Autumn in moist areas.  Come Spring and a little rain, it is out and about and ready to feed.

Another mosquito found throughout the Florida peninsula and panhandle is the Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti).  As its name implies, this mosquito is capable of transmitting Yellow Fever, as well as Dengue, Chikungunya Virus, and Dog Heartworm.  It is said to be the primary vector of the Zika Virus, as well.  Thankfully, none of these pathogens are common in the United States with the exception of Dog Heartworm.

The Eastern Treehole Mosquito (Aedes triseriatus) is another species that can be found in much of the state.  The larvae develop in tree holes (hence the name) but will also breed in other types of containers including rain barrels.  It is the primary carrier of La Crosse Encephalitis.

The Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) is found throughout Florida.  This mosquito can develop in almost anything that holds still water.  The Southern House Mosquito is known to carry the viruses that cause West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE).

Culex nigripalpus, which has the unofficial name of the Florida SLE Mosquito, is quite common and found throughout the state.  What makes this such an important species is they are vectors of SLE, West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Dog Heartworm.  Much like its cousin, the Southern House Mosquito, it will inhabit almost anything that holds still water.

The granddaddy and largest mosquito found in the southeast is the Gallinipper Mosquito (Psorophora ciliate).  Although research has shown that many of the aforementioned pathogens have been tested for and found in Gallinipper Mosquitoes, there are no studies confirming it is a vector of those viruses.  This mosquito becomes a major nuisance after heavy rains which cause flooding and puddling in low-lying areas such as pastures and drainage ditches.  The Gallinipper Mosquito is quite capable of penetrating clothing and delivering a painful bite!

Now, what can be done to minimize mosquito populations?

  • Do not allow water to stand in artificial containers for long periods of time.
  • Clean and refill birdbaths and pet water bowls every few days.
  • Use mosquito dunks in ponds and other bodies of water that can’t be drained.  These floating dunk cakes release bacterial agents that kill mosquito larvae.
  • Use mosquito repellent for protection when working or playing outdoors.  Remember to follow the label guidelines when using repellents and insecticides.
  • Clean roof gutters and downspouts.  This will go a long way in preventing mosquitoes and other pests that could breed up there.

If you’re tired of cleaning your gutters, call your local Florida Pest Control office, we have several programs that can help you accomplish this.  You may never have to clean your gutters again!

To help protect you and your family, Florida Pest Control has developed our Pro Star Mosquito Program.  Skilled technicians will inspect your property for potential mosquito breeding areas.  In conjunction with this inspection, they will also provide recommendations of what you can do to reduce the mosquito pressure around your home.  Treatment of mosquito resting areas associated with the structure will also be performed, thereby reducing the adult population of mosquitoes in that vicinity.  Contact us to schedule an inspection today.

Benefits of Bats

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When people hear the word bat, they either think of baseball or Dracula! Bats of the animal variety, with their leathery wings and tiny sharp teeth, seem to strike fear into the hearts of most people. Maybe this is because of a common misconception that all bats drink blood like the vampire bats in the Dracula movies. Actually, there are only three species of bats in the world that feed on blood and they reside solely in South America.

The following are more interesting facts about bats:

  • Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. Their wings are actually “hands” with elongated fingers and a leathery membrane.
  • 70% of the world’s 1,000+ species of bats feed on insects. The remainder feed on nectar, fruit, lizards, birds, frogs, or even fish. All 13 species of bats found in Florida are insectivores (bug eaters).
  • Besides being natural pest controllers, bats help to pollinate plants and spread fruit seeds (carried in their nutrient-rich guano).
  • Speaking of guano, some bats can produce several times their body weight in droppings per week, depending on how much they eat. Bat guano is reported to be a great fertilizer, but like other excrements, there are hazards associated with handling the raw product.
  • Most bats prefer to roost in trees or caves. Unfortunately, when these roosting sites are not available, bats can take up residence in buildings and become a nuisance.

As you can see, bats aren’t the bad guys they’re made out to be. In the event you encounter a bat problem in your home, we have humane methods to remove the bats. This will not only make you happy, but the bats will benefit, as well

The “Dog Days” of Summer

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The months of July and August are often referred to as the “Dog Days” of summer. This term comes from ancient times where it was believed that Sirius the Dog Star would make temperatures even hotter when they align with the Sun. Although the Dog Star doesn’t actually increase the temperature during its appearance in the summer, I think we can agree it is hot-hot-hot outside! While doing any outdoor activities, be careful of overheating and insect stings.

There are two heat-related illnesses we must be aware of: Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion.

Heat Stroke

This is life-threatening. Symptoms are Hot skin, elevated temperature, disorientation, bizarre behavior, convulsions, rapid breathing, and pulse.

What to do? Seek medical attention immediately.  Before help arrives, move the person to a cool place.  Cool the person the best way possible. Place ice packs or damp rags on the neck and armpits. Fan the person. Slightly elevate their head and shoulders.

Heat Exhaustion

This occurs when you sweat too much and don’t replace body fluids.  Symptoms are Heavy sweating, normal temperature, pale color, headache, dizziness, nausea, and weakness.

What to do?  Move the person to a cool place. Elevate the legs. Cool the person with cool wet rags. Give water or Gatorade. Fan the person. Call for medical help if the person doesn’t improve in 30 minutes.

An old rhyme will help you remember which treatment is needed:  “If the face is red, raise the head (heat stroke). If the face is pale, raise the tail/legs (heat exhaustion).”

Insect Stings

June, July, and August are the HOT months and the most active months for the Hymenoptera. Ants, Bees, Yellowjackets, and Wasps are hard at work foraging for food.  They’re also looking for sources of moisture. Your favorite beverage in a chilled aluminum can is too much of an invitation to them. They will readily fly into the can and collect liquid to carry back to their nest. If you unsuspectingly take a drink while the insect is in the can, you may ingest it into your mouth, or worse, into your stomach.  This is a very dangerous situation. You may be stung repeatedly before the insect dies.  It’s hard to imagine how painful a sting would be in your esophagus or stomach!!

Each year several people die from Hymenoptera stings to the back of the throat.  Their throat swells shut and they suffocate.  If someone accidentally ingests a Hymenoptera and is stung in the back of the throat, the esophagus, or stomach, get immediate medical help!

Stay cool and be careful while enjoying the “Dog Days” of summer.

Back to School and Head Lice

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The beginning of a new school year presents certain problems we all have to deal with.  One common problem is Head Lice.

Head Lice can be transferred from person to person through personal contact or by sharing certain items such as combs, brushes, caps, clothing, etc.  At school, children often play in close contact with each other and share many of these items.  Since Head Lice don’t fly or have strong jumping legs like fleas, close contact is the primary avenue of spreading from host to host.  It’s best that children are taught not to share personal belongings such as hats, brushes, and combs with other classmates.

August through November is normally the time when lice are transmitted.  By December and January, Head Lice infestations are vast.  Children should be inspected weekly for Head Lice during the early fall months of August through November.

On occasion, lice may fall off their host onto another surface; however, they cannot survive off a human for more than 24 hours.  Therefore, they do not live for very long in furniture, carpet, beds, vehicles, etc.  They want to remain on their host in order to survive.

Head Lice eggs are called nits.  They are very tiny, white, oval, and cylindrical in shape.  Nits are glued by the female to the hairs near the scalp normally behind the ears and along the back of the neck.  Nits must be removed by using a special fine-toothed louse comb.  This is done by combing from the root to the tip of the hair and repeating until the entire scalp has been combed several times.  A regular plastic comb will not remove nits.

One female louse will lay 6-7 eggs each day.  A child could have several dozen lice living on his/her head in just a few weeks.  You can see why weekly inspections during the school year are so important.

There are several over-the-counter products that can be applied to the scalp for the control of Head Lice.  However, it’s important to note that nit removal is the key. This is because up to 80% of nits survive control products applied to the scalp.

Head Lice are a medical problem.  There’s no application that can be performed by a pest control company for the control of Head Lice.

Remember, children that are taught not to share personal belongings such as hats, brushes, and combs with other classmates and have weekly inspections performed are less likely to experience Head Lice during the school year.

Florida Mosquito-Borne Diseases

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Mosquitoes are more than just pests; they can be dangerous – and even deadly – for people and animals alike. Here, in Florida, we have our share of mosquitoes, especially during the summer. While the bites themselves cause mild irritation and itching, diseases that may be transferred as a result of a bite are a big health concern.
Here are some mosquito-borne viruses that may infect Floridians:

West Nile Virus

First identified in Uganda in 1937, West Nile Virus made headlines in the United States in 2012 when an epidemic of this mosquito-borne illness resulted in the second-highest number of cases ever reported in Florida – and claimed the lives of 286 people nationwide. West Nile Virus has been identified in 48 states and all 67 Florida counties.

Only about 20% of infected people show any symptoms, and less than 1% of infected people develop the most severe form of the disease. In these severe cases; however, West Nile may lead to meningitis and encephalitis and cause permanent nerve damage, paralysis, coma, or death.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

As you may have inferred from the name, Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus was first identified in horses. The virus is now known to infect mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Most outbreaks occur in summer, but they are possible throughout the year in Florida.

Symptoms including fever, muscle pains, and a severe headache generally appear within 10 days of a person being bitten by an infected mosquito and get worse over time. If the patient doesn’t recover within a couple of weeks, encephalitis-like symptoms including seizures, vomiting, and neurological issues set in, and coma or death may follow. Approximately 30-45% of people with encephalitis from this virus will die from the disease.

Dengue Virus

This virus is responsible for Dengue Fever, also sometimes referred to as Breakbone Fever. The symptoms of this disease are similar to that of the flu: joint pain, headaches, fever, and muscle aches. An additional symptom seen is a rash similar to measles. In severe cases, hemorrhagic fever may develop, which can be fatal.

Cases have been reported in the Keys during 2009-2010 and in Martin County, Florida, in 2013. Most of these cases were due to people traveling to an area such as the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Asia.

Chikungunya Virus

Chikungunya is a fairly new virus. Most of the reported cases in the U.S. have been due to people returning from areas where the disease is prevalent (certain parts of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean). In July 2014, two locally transmitted cases were diagnosed in Florida.

The principal symptom of the Chikungunya Virus is excruciating joint pain. It’s not usually fatal, but the pain can last several weeks.
Zika Virus

Zika virus found itself in the news a few years back, as multiple cases were reported in the United States. The cases originally found in the United States were the result of people returning from areas where the disease was found in high numbers of the population (namely Central and South America, Puerto Rico, and certain parts of the Caribbean). Later, cases of Zika in a Miami neighborhood had authorities concerned, as the virus was spreading among its residents. Increased mosquito control and citizen education programs began in that area to combat the further spread of the virus.

Symptoms of Zika are flu-like. In most cases, those infected either have mild to no symptoms. There is a disturbing phenomenon seen in pregnant women who become infected with Zika. It seems they run a higher chance of giving birth to a child with microcephaly (a birth defect causing small head size and brain abnormalities).
In Conclusion:

All of the diseases previously listed have no human vaccines available, so you can see how important it is to protect yourself from mosquitoes to avoid exposure to any of these nasty viruses! To protect yourself from mosquitoes, wear protective clothing and use insect repellents outdoors. You should also check door and window screens for holes or tears and eliminate standing water near your home. We have a mosquito reduction program, as well, that will assist in lessening the mosquito pressure around your home.

Top Mosquito Misconceptions

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Mosquitoes are one of the most well-known (and most hated) backyard pests known to man. They’re the bane of many a summer barbecue, and they can even just ruin a night inside your home. But even though they’re so common, many people don’t understand much about mosquitoes – which is why they can be so prevalent around the home.

Learn what you don’t know about mosquitoes to discover how you can give yourself a “skeeter-free” summer.

Every Mosquito is the Same

There are actually more than 3,000 varieties of mosquitoes around the world, and about 36 species in Florida. Only a handful of varieties can carry disease and will bite humans, but most prefer to bite amphibians and reptiles. But even though most mosquitoes may not bite you, they are still a nuisance.

No Water, No Mosquitoes

Standing water is the most common breeding place for mosquitoes, and most people know enough to remove things like tires, birdbaths, rain barrels, and empty children’s pools from their yard, but that’s only part of the battle. Many people are often stumped that they continue to be attacked by mosquitoes even after removing water sources from their yards. While standing water is the most common culprit, your yard probably offers many potential homes to a mosquito.

Yard trimmings create a perfect place for mosquitoes to breed and hide in plain sight. Trimmed grass, fallen leaves, and shrubs provide the cool, dark, and damp environments that mosquitoes love, so it’s important that you actively manage your yard maintenance to avoid mosquito infestations. In Florida, fallen pine needles in your backyard or on your roof are a common breeding ground for mosquitoes, so make sure you don’t fall behind on raking them up.

While trimmings and shrubs may not immediately cause more mosquitoes to appear, mosquito eggs can survive in a safe place for months, waiting until there is enough water to feed the larvae. This means that if you don’t regularly clean your yard, the next big Florida rainstorm can create a whole crop of new mosquitoes.

In addition to your trimmings, it’s not uncommon for your gutters to fill up with debris that can quickly become home to a number of pests, including mosquitoes. Florida Pest Control offers the Clear Gutter Pest Defense gutter cleaning service, which ensures that your gutters don’t become a home for annoying pests.

All Mosquitoes Bite

Though it’s natural to want to get away from any mosquito around you, female mosquitoes are actually the only ones that bite. They need protein from blood to help develop eggs and continue the mosquito cycle, while males generally feed on plant nectar or sugar. It can be hard to identify a male mosquito on the fly, obviously, but they’ll generally tend to avoid people – since they aren’t a food source – while females will be attracted to people and pets. Of course, while male mosquitoes don’t bite, they do make more biting mosquitoes.

Natural Remedies Can Drive Them Away

We like to try home remedies as much as anyone, but unfortunately, there is no evidence that most home remedies have any effect on driving mosquitoes away or keeping them from biting. Mosquito repellants like citronella can make an outdoor barbecue more pleasant, but the best way to ensure your summer stays mosquito-free is to have your home and yard professionally treated to combat mosquitoes. Contact a Florida Pest Control representative today to see how we can help you stay unbitten with our Pro-Star Mosquito program.

The Signs of Termite Infestation

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With its warm, humid climate, Florida makes a terrific home for termites of all kinds. There are four basic groups of termites present in Florida. Subterranean termites require a moist environment. Dampwood termites require constant moisture and prefer water-saturated wood. In the case of the drywood termite, as its name indicates, it requires very little moisture in the wood it infests. There is also a fourth group of termites called conehead termites. This exotic termite can be found in isolated parts of South Florida. It requires a moist environment similar to the subterranean termite but performs its foraging and nesting in a unique manner.

So how can termites get into your home? One way subterranean termites find their way into buildings is through foraging. Most of the members of a subterranean termite colony get the job of looking for food to feed themselves and their nestmates. They will travel hundreds of feet to find cellulose material (wood, cardboard, paper, etc.) to take back to their nest. During their travels, they may stumble upon the wood members of your house and begin feasting.

Another way termites could end up infesting your home is through a process called swarming. As the population of a termite colony grows over time, winged termites called swarmers may be sent out to start new colonies elsewhere. You may have even noticed these swarmers flying in large numbers at certain times of the year. Different varieties of termites will swarm at different times – so you could see swarms throughout the year, even in fall and winter. However, most termite species will swarm in spring and summer.

Before we discuss some signs of termite infestation, we should understand the types of termites that could damage your home:

Subterranean termites – Subterranean termites (both native and Formosan) are very common in Florida. These pests live in the soil and will create mud tubes as they forage for food above the soil surface. The food might be a fallen log, scrap wood, or your home! As a result, it’s important to make sure you’re protected from these hungry pests before they cause damage to your biggest investment. Another way subterranean termites could establish themselves in your home is during their swarming season. Native subterranean termites typically swarm in the spring on humid afternoons. The Formosan subterranean termite (an introduced species) starts swarming in the spring and may continue to swarm into the summer. Their flights consist of tens of thousands of swarmers and tend to occur in the evening.

Drywood termites – Homes are also at risk of drywood termite attack. Unlike their subterranean counterparts, drywood termites need no contact with soil to survive. They can inhabit sound wood and have even been known to nest in wooden furniture! These termites generally swarm during summer evenings. Preventive treatments are available to protect your home from these pests; the alternative is waiting until you have an infestation and possibly having to fumigate your home!

Dampwood termites – Dampwood termites are not considered significant structural pests. They require such a high amount of constant moisture that structural infestations of these termites are rare.

Conehead termites – Conehead termites were first discovered in the early 2000s in Broward County. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has been involved in an eradication program to keep this pest from spreading to other parts of Florida. Because of its limited area of known activity in south Florida, it is not yet considered a statewide pest.

Signs of Termites

If you have a termite problem in your home, you may notice this during the spring and summer months. As mentioned previously, this is the time of year many species of termites in Florida swarm to start new colonies.  If your home is infested, you might find large numbers of termite wings from swarmers inside your home on windowsills, in light fixtures, etc. Many people mistake flying ants for termites, but the two have different characteristics when inspected closely.

In addition to swarming termites, subterranean and drywood termites also show more subtle signs of their activity.

Subterranean termites will usually leave a sign of their activity: the termite mud tube or dirt build-up in places where dirt should not be (such as inside walls, baseboards, window sills, etc.). Since these termites tunnel in and feast on wood, one way to check for subterranean termites is to look for buckling wood, warped wood, hollow-sounding wood, or even areas that appear to have water damage. Probing these areas may cause you to break into their tunnel, exposing dirt material and possibly the termites themselves.

Drywood termites will colonize directly inside wooden members, such as inside of walls or within the furniture. One of the first signs of a drywood termite infestation is the presence of their tiny fecal pellets. Drywood termites are better housekeepers than their subterranean cousins. In order to keep their termite tunnels clean inside the wood, they will create “kick out” holes to discard their fecal pellets. If you see small holes in furniture or walls, probe the area and knock lightly to see if fecal pellets fall out of the hole. Be on the lookout for additional pellets dropping from the hole after you’ve cleaned them up. If fecal pellets do reappear, you may have an active colony, especially if your home has never been fumigated.

Removing an Infestation

With termites, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth more than a pound of cure. The easiest way to avoid a termite problem is to protect your home from termites before you have a problem with them. Contact Florida Pest Control today to schedule a termite inspection to safeguard your home against termites.

How to Keep Your Home Flea-Free

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While pets may be our best friends, they can have other “friends” we don’t necessarily want hanging around. Fleas are some of the worst friends your pet could have. They not only use warm-blooded animals as food but also cause allergic reactions with their saliva that can create itches that are scratched all the way into a scab.  So how do we prevent these pests from inviting themselves into our homes?
Act Fast

If you are reading this article because you have a flea problem then you need to move fast.  Fleas take multiple forms – egg, larva, pupa, and adult form.  If you don’t remove all forms of flea activity then it will be a reoccurring problem. To prevent the fleas from taking over every part of your home call a pest control expert.

Groom Your Lawn

Another common hangout spot for fleas is your lawn.  Fleas can be found in the dirt and grass outside of your home – usually in shaded areas frequented by your pet or perhaps wild animals. This creates a perfect initial contact point.  Once fleas make the initial contact they will be able to hitchhike on your pet and into your home.  Once in your home, fleas have no problem feeding on you or your pet!

Watch For Rodents

Rodents in your home are big enough problems already, but unfortunately, they don’t always come alone. Adult fleas spend most of their time on warm-blooded animals, and rodents definitely fall into that category. Therefore the rodents that you find in your house may have special passengers they bring with them. Removing and preventing rodents from living in your home is an important preventive measure for fleas.

Pets

Keeping your pet flea-free is also an important factor for preventing fleas from taking over your home. Since fleas prefer to feed on furry creatures, consistently providing your pet with flea control prescribed by your veterinarian will break the feeding cycle.

Clean Your Home

Cleaning and vacuuming your home is always a good strategy when concerned about fleas. Picking up fleas in the vacuum prevents them from spreading throughout your home. It’s also an easy way to pick up the various forms of fleas before they become adults. Also, it is important to target high-frequency areas for your pet, as these areas will have the highest concentration of the various flea life stages.

If you have any concerns about a flea infestation in your home, don’t hesitate to contact Florida Pest Control today for your no-obligation consultation.

Deer Flies and Yellow Flies… Oh My!

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Many of us who work or play outdoors always seems to know when Summer is right around the corner, ‘cause that’s when those annoying and usually painful bites occur from Deer Flies and Yellow Flies.

The female lays her eggs preferably on aquatic vegetation above water or saturated soil.  She could lay as many as one thousand eggs.  Now that’s a lot of eggs!  Hatching takes place in about a week.  As the larvae hatch, they fall to the moisture below where they will feed on an organic matter they find in the wet soil.  When the larvae are ready to pupate, they move to a drier area of the soil.  They will stay in the pupal stage for about three weeks…Misery is just around the corner!

The males are usually the first to emerge and wait around for the females (Sounds familiar).  When mating is completed, the female is ready to seek out a warm-blooded host, such as you or me, or maybe your dog or cat.  She injects an anticoagulant into the wound she just sawed on your ankle and then sops up the blood with her sponge-like mouthparts.

Activity normally begins in late May and continues through September.  Her favorite feeding time is two or three hours after sunrise and then again for a couple of hours before sunset.

Now that you know everything there is to know about these flies, you’re probably thinking, “How do I stop these (insert expletive) from torturing me?”  Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot you can do other than wearing protective clothing and applying insect repellents.

If you want to try trapping them on a sticky blue Solo cup or a big black ball, do an internet search using your favorite search engine and type in “Trolling for Deer Fly Trap.”  Some say they work very well.

Florida’s Eastern Blood-Sucking Conenose Kissing Bug

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Oh no, Florida has a native blood-sucking kissing bug?  Tell me it isn’t so!  Hide the children and hide the pets, grab the bug spray and install the bed nets!  That’s probably what you’re thinking…Right?  Well, it’s not quite that bad.

Although it’s true, we do have the Eastern Blood-sucking Conenose (Triatoma sanguisuga) in Florida, it doesn’t possess the health concern as its cousins south of the border.

Its cousin, commonly called Vinchuca (Triatoma infestans), is found in Central and South America and is the vector of the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite known as Chagas Disease.  There are a few other blood-sucking kissing bugs that carry the disease down that way, but Vinchuca is the main culprit.

Eastern Blood-sucking Conenose Kissing Bugs naturally live outdoors and hide in dark crevices during the day.  At night, they emerge in search of a blood meal from raccoons, possums, dogs, cattle, deer, or other mammals.  If they enter a house, they seek out dark crevices such as cracks around doors and floors.  They’ll even hide behind curtains…Any small dark area will do.

You’re probably wondering how they got the name Kissing Bug.  When they emerge to seek out a blood meal from a sleeping person, they will usually feed on the face typically near the mouth.  Hence the name Kissing Bug.  Is this freaking you out yet?!

If you’re all worried now about Blood-sucking Conenose Kissing Bugs infesting your home, fear not.  You have a much better chance of getting a Bed Bug infestation.  Although Florida does have these insidious creatures, home infestations are quite rare.  Now, that should make you feel much better!