Kissing Bug Control in Maricopa & Casa Grande, AZ
Kissing bug control for Pinal County homes: find and remove the pack rat nests they breed in, seal the gaps they fly through, and know what to do if one bites.
What Do Kissing Bugs Look Like in Arizona?
Kissing bug control starts with a positive ID. Arizona has seven kissing bug (conenose bug) species, and three show up around homes most: Triatoma rubida, T. protracta and T. recurva (Arizona Department of Health Services). Adults are:
- Half an inch to just over an inch long, dark brown to black.
- Cone-headed, with a long, narrow head and a beak folded underneath.
- Banded at the edges. T. rubida has reddish-brown markings along the edges of the abdomen beside the folded wings; T. recurva is the biggest and all dark.
Not sure? Don't crush it with bare hands. Scoop it into a jar or zip bag and book a visit, or bring it to your doctor if someone was bitten.
Book a Kissing Bug Inspection
Tell us a little about your property. We'll reach out to schedule — usually the same or next business day.
Kissing Bugs in Maricopa, Casa Grande and Pinal County
Adult kissing bugs fly mainly from May through July, at dusk and at night, and they head for lights (Arizona Department of Health Services). Homes that back onto open desert, washes and fields, in Casa Grande, Eloy, Coolidge, Florence and the edges of the City of Maricopa, see them most, because that's where pack rats build their stick nests. The nests are kissing bug breeding sites (University of Arizona), and bugs also turn up in dog houses and chicken coops. From there they get in through gaps around doors, torn screens and crawlspaces, then hide by day in bedding, furniture and closets.
How to Get Rid of Kissing Bugs
Spraying the bugs you see doesn't solve it. Getting rid of kissing bugs means taking away where they breed and how they get in. The steps below follow the Arizona Department of Health Services and University of Arizona guidance:
- Remove pack rat nests close to the house. Have nests near the home removed by a professional; nests far out in the desert can be left alone.
- Seal and screen. Close cracks and gaps, replace worn door sweeps, and screen windows, doors and vents.
- Change the lights. Switch porch and patio lights to LED bulbs that give off less UV light, and close doors and drapes after dark.
- Clean up the yard. Move wood piles, lumber and debris away from the house.
- Bring pets in at night and check dog houses and coops.
- Check indoors, mid-spring to mid-fall. Vacuum any bugs you find in cracks, drapes and bedding, and check under beds and in closets.
What a Kissing Bug Visit Includes
The technician walks the yard and the house edge for pack rat nests, removes the ones close to the home, treats the perimeter and the gaps bugs use, and leaves a written list of entry points to seal. Because pack rats are the source, the same visit covers pack rat control.
Kissing Bug Bites and Chagas Risk in Arizona
Kissing bugs bite at night, usually on the face, neck or arms. The bite is painless at first, then can itch and swell into welts that last days. Repeated bites can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis; call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat (Arizona Department of Health Services).
Chagas disease spreads through the bug's droppings getting into a bite wound, the eyes or the mouth, not through the bite itself (CDC). Many Arizona kissing bugs carry the parasite, but the University of Arizona notes that transmission to people here is very rare. Questions about a bite or testing belong with your doctor; the Arizona Department of Health Services explains how a bug can be submitted for testing.
Kissing Bug Control Cost in Maricopa & Casa Grande
The first visit is $99: inspection, nest removal near the home, treatment and a written sealing list. The $50/month plan covers treatment every 60 days with free callbacks. Start a plan the same day and your visit fee covers your first 3 months of the plan. See all pest control prices. Finding small bugs in mattress seams instead? That's more likely bed bugs.
Kissing Bug Control Near You in Maricopa & Pinal County
- Kissing bug control in the City of Maricopa
- Kissing bug control in Casa Grande
- Kissing bug control in Coolidge
- Kissing bug control in Eloy
- Kissing bug control in Florence
- Kissing bug control in Rancho El Dorado
- Kissing bug control in Province
- Kissing bug control in Glennwilde
- Kissing bug control in Cobblestone Farms
- Kissing bug control in Homestead
- Kissing bug control in Santa Rosa Springs
Learn More From Authoritative Sources
Kissing Bug Questions: Maricopa & Casa Grande
Should I be worried if I find a kissing bug in my house?
One bug is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to act. Kissing bugs live outdoors, mostly in pack rat nests, and fly to lights on summer nights (Arizona Department of Health Services). One indoors usually means a nest is close to the house or there is a gap or torn screen letting bugs in. Young, wingless bugs found inside, especially near beds or pet beds, can point to bugs living indoors (CDC), so book an inspection.
What will keep kissing bugs away?
The Arizona Department of Health Services recommends sealing cracks and gaps, screening windows, doors and vents, removing wood piles and debris, having pack rat nests close to the house removed by professionals, keeping pets indoors at night, closing doors and drapes after dark, and switching porch lights to LED bulbs that give off less UV light.
What happens if a kissing bug bites me?
Bites usually happen at night and are painless at first, then can itch, swell and form welts that last days. Some people, especially after repeated bites, have severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis: call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat (Arizona Department of Health Services). For any bite worry, call your doctor and bring the bug in a sealed container. We're pest control, not medical advice.
Can kissing bugs give you Chagas disease in Arizona?
The parasite that causes Chagas disease spreads through the bug's droppings getting into a bite wound, the eyes or the mouth, not through the bite itself (CDC). Many Arizona kissing bugs carry the parasite, but the University of Arizona notes transmission to people here is very rare. Ask your doctor about testing; the Arizona Department of Health Services explains how a bug can be submitted for testing.
Are kissing bugs the same as bed bugs?
No. Kissing bugs are much bigger, about half an inch to just over an inch, with a long cone-shaped head, and they live outdoors in pack rat nests. Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and live in mattresses and furniture. If you are finding small bugs in the bed seams, see our bed bug page.
How much does kissing bug control cost in Maricopa and Casa Grande?
The first visit is $99: an inspection for nearby pack rat nests and entry points, nest removal, treatment and a list of gaps to seal. Ongoing service is $50/month with treatment every 60 days and free callbacks. Start a plan the same day and your visit fee covers your first 3 months of the plan.