kissing bug

1 9.1

A large bloodsucking bug that bites near the mouth and can spread Chagas disease

noun
/ˈkɪsɪŋ bʌg/

: chinche besucona

If you see a kissing bug in your home, it's important to take precautions to avoid being bitten.

Examples

Come here, my little kissing bug.

Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
Did you recognise this kissing bug?

Spellbound (1945)
I've never gotten bitten by anything much except kissing bugs.

Fiction book (1993)
The kissing bug is known for biting humans near the mouth, which can transmit diseases.
In Central and South America, the kissing bug poses a risk of Chagas disease to unsuspecting victims.

Synonyms

cone-nosed bug

vskissing bug

9.9

A large insect that sucks blood and can spread Chagas disease

is the regional common term stressing bites near the mouth and disease risk

Triatoma

vskissing bug

Specialized

9.9

A kind of kissing bug that can spread Chagas disease to people

is the everyday name focusing on human bites rather than taxonomy

conenose bug

vskissing bug

Specialized

9.9

A large insect that sucks blood from people and sometimes spreads disease

uses the common biting behaviour to name them rather than scientific grouping

conenose

vskissing bug

Specialized

9.9

A large bug that drinks blood and can spread Chagas disease to people

is the familiar name highlighting human biting and potential infection

genus Triatoma

vskissing bug

Specialized

9.9

A group of blood-sucking bugs that spread Chagas disease in Central and South America

is the common descriptive name used by people, not the scientific label

Surface Forms

kissing bug singular

kissing bugs plural

Morphology

kissing + bug

This compound is transparently compositional: 'kissing' modifies 'bug' to indicate a bug that 'kisses' people (i.e., bites or feeds near the mouth). A B1 learner who knows 'kissing' and 'bug' will readily infer an insect associated with the mouth area, even if they might not predict the medical detail (bloodsucking or disease transmission).

Etymology

The noun kissing bug comes from the way the small bug bites near the mouth or lips while people sleep, so it looks like it is kissing the face. That's why the name now means a bloodsucking insect that can 'spread disease'.