noun
- plural of conenose; blood-feeding insects of the family Reduviidae, characterized by a cone-shaped head, found in warm regions of the Americas
Usage: Also called kissing bugs or assassin bugs; Can transmit Chagas disease through their feces
Examples
- Conenoses are nocturnal insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds.
- The conenoses earned the nickname 'kissing bugs' because they often bite people around the mouth and eyes.
- In parts of Central and South America, conenoses are known vectors of Chagas disease.
- Conenoses can be identified by their elongated, cone-shaped heads and reddish markings.
- Travelers to endemic regions should take precautions to avoid contact with conenoses at night.