The “Killer Bug”: Assassin Bug or “Kissing Bug”? Beware!

Scientific Fact – Entomology + Health Warning: 1. What exactly is this insect? Based on its long legs and downward-curving proboscis, it’s likely from the Redovidae family. It’s called the Assassin Bug, or “killer bug” in Arabic. But be careful: there’s a very close and dangerous species called the Kissing Bug (scientific name: Triatoma). Distinguishing between them is difficult to see. 2. Why is it called “killer”? The Predator Assassin Bug doesn’t usually bite humans. It’s a predator that eats other insects. It has a needle-like proboscis that injects “enzymes” that dissolve the internal organs of its prey, and when the prey dies, it sucks it out like a straw. 3. The important warning: Is it dangerous to humans? That’s the problem. If it’s the Kissing Bug, it carries a serious disease called Chagas Disease. How does it spread? It comes out at night and bites near the mouth or eye (hence the name “kissing bug”). After feeding, it defecates feces containing the parasite Trypanosoma