Gallery: The Recluse Who Hunts Assassins (the Insect Variety)

  • Kissing Bugs
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    01

    WiredKB-11.jpg

    To catch kissing bugs, Brown strings up a white sheet and illuminates it with an incandescent light bulb. He often finds kissing bugs crawling on the floor near it, drawn to the light.
  • Kissing Bugs
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    02

    WiredKB-14.jpg

    Brown holds a kissing bug in his bare hands. Scientist caution people who collect kissing bugs never to touch them with their bare hands.
  • Kissing Bugs
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    03

    WiredKB-01.jpg

    Brown keeps bug he catches in expired pill bottles in his freezer.
  • Image may contain Human Person Finger Electronics and Camera
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    04

    WiredKB-12.jpg

    Brown notes the location, time and date where each bug was found and slips it in the a pill bottle with the bug.
  • Image may contain Human Person Vegetation Plant Tree Outdoors Clothing Shoe Footwear Apparel Nature and Land
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    05

    WiredKB-05.jpg

    Brown spends much of his time wandering his property.
  • Kissing Bugs
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    06

    WiredKB-09.jpg

    Brown climbs an eight-story tower he built besides his house for ham radio.
  • Image may contain Loft Attic Housing Building and Indoors
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    07

    WiredKB-13.jpg

    Brown finds a kissing bug on the radio tower.
  • Kissing Bugs
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    08

    WiredKB-02.jpg

    Brown holds a "kissing bug" that he pulled out of a pill bottle in his freezer. Scientist caution people who collect kissing bugs never to touch them with their bare hands.
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Human Person and Plant
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    09

    WiredKB-04.jpg

    Brown surveys his land. He lives on 153 acres in Lexington, Texas.
  • Kissing Bugs
    Ilana Panich-Linsman
    10

    WiredKB-07.jpg

    Brown chooses to live a quiet, isolated life immersed in nature.
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