Kissing bugs particularly hate citronella oil, which has been shown to effectively repel them and prevent them from biting.
While more comprehensive research is needed, studies suggest that citronella oil is a promising potential repellent to protect sleeping individuals from kissing bug bites. In the cited study, only citronella oil completely stopped the bugs from probing and feeding. Other potential repellents may exist, but based on the reference material, citronella oil is the most noteworthy.
