Kissing bugs inhabit a variety of ecological environments, including human domestic environments. They can be considered sylvatic, peridomestic, and/or domestic as it pertains to interactions with human beings. Some triatomines rarely encounter humans but others are well known invaders of our spaces! As mentioned above the four most common that are found in and around human dwellings are Triatoma sanguisuga, Triatoma rubida, Triatoma protracta, and Triatoma gerstaeckeri.

Each kissing bug will have its own niche within the surrounding ecology. Within these environments their feeding patterns can vary. For example in one study in Louisiana, kissing bugs most commonly fed on frogs! Even with the threat of being eaten they will find a blood meal. Kissing bugs will acquire a blood meal from a variety vertebrate hosts and tend to associate themselves with the den, nests, or burrows of animals such as rodents, small mammals and even birds. They seek refuge within the burrows, cavities, caves, and other locations with moderate temperatures, feeding throughout their lives in these locations.

However, they are also opportunistic and have demonstrated some interesting behaviors here in the United States, such as feeding on humans. When analyzing the contents of a blood meal source, kissing bugs have had human blood present in 30-40% of specimens. Other animals, including domestic pets (dogs, cats, birds), livestock (horses, goats, and sheep), and wild animals (horses, pigs, coyotes, raccoons, frogs, snakes) have been isolated on blood meal analysis. When and how some species of triatomines became specialists on humans is still a mystery that needs attention.