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The members of the Triatominae, a subfamily of the Reduviidae, are also known as conenose bugs, kissing bugs, or vampire bugs. Other local names for them used in the Americas include barbeiros, vinchucas, pitos, chipos and chinches. Most of the 130 or more species of this subfamily feed on vertebrate blood; a very small portion of species feed on invertebrates. They are mainly found and widespread in the Americas, with a few species present in Asia and Africa. These bugs usually share shelter with nesting vertebrates, from which they suck blood. In areas where Chagas disease occurs, all triatomine species are potential vectors of the Chagas disease parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, but only those species that are well adapted to living with humans are considered important vectors. Also, proteins released from their bites have been known to induce anaphylaxis in sensitive and sensitized individuals.
Rhodnius is a genus of assassin bugs in the subfamily Triatominae, and is an important vector in the spread of Chagas disease. The Rhodnius species were important models for Sir Vincent Wigglesworth's studies of insect physiology, specifically growth and development.
The Emesinae, or thread-legged bugs, are a subfamily of the Reduviidae. They are conspicuously different from the other reduviids by their very slender body form. They are stalking, predatory insects that can be collected on palm fronds, cliffs, spider webbing, or near lights at night. They walk on their mid and hind legs; the front pair is raptorial. Some groups specialize on spiders. Very little is known about emesines except that many species are found in the tropics. Pedro Wygodzinsky wrote the most recent revision of this group.
Ghilianella is a genus of true bug in the subfamily Emesinae. Fifty-eight species have been described, with a distribution from Guatemala to Brazil. The linear form of the species in this genus allow the young larvae to be carried about by the mother or perhaps the father. The larvae of the young can curl around the parent's thorax.
Ploiaria is a cosmopolitan genus of thread-legged bugs (Emesinae). There are presently about 130 described species.
The Harpactorinae are a large subfamily of the Reduviidae. About 300 genera and 2,000 species worldwide have been described. Some of the species of the genera Zelus, Pselliopus, Sinea, and Apiomerus are of interest as biological pest control agents.
Stenolemus is a genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Species of this genus are noted for preying on spiders.
Ploiariolini is a tribe of thread-legged bugs, comprising 16 genera and 142 described species. Ploiariolini has a worldwide distribution.
Polauchenia is a genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Only five species have been described.
Phasmatocoris is a little-known genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Fourteen species have been described, including 3 from Colombia.
Onychomesa is a little-known genus of thread-legged bug in the subfamily Emesinae. Three species have been described, one from India, Japan, and Taiwan.
Apiomerus flaviventris, a bee assassin bug, is an insect that feeds on bees. It is found in arid and semiarid southwestern North America. This bee assassin is known to extract plant resins and apply them as defensive chemicals to its eggs, protecting the eggs from predation, especially by ants, but possibly also other species. Females of A. flaviventris collect resin from brittlebush, Encelia farinosa Gray ex Torr. (Asteraceae).
Apiomerus pilipes, the bee assassin, is an insect that feeds on bees. It is found in South America and reported from Venezuela, Colombia, French Guiana, and Brazil. Like other members of the genus, females of this species have well-developed hind abdominal foliaceous appendages which can be coated with plant-derived resin.
Emesa is a small genus of thread-legged bug (Emesinae). Only four species have been described.
Agriocleptus is a small genus of assassin bugs.
Amauroclopius is a small genus of assassin bugs belonging to the family Reduviidae.
Prioria copaifera is a tree in the family Fabaceae, native to tropical regions of Central and South America, where it occurs in tidal estuaries behind the mangrove fringe. It ranges from Nicaragua to Colombia and is also found in Jamaica.
Beharus is a monotypic genus of assassin bugs belonging to the family Reduviidae. Its one described species, B. cylindripes, is found in South America, though not restricted to the Amazon basin.
Heniartes is a large genus of assassin bugs belonging to the family Reduviidae; 32 species have been described, all from South America.
Cosmoclopius is a genus of South American assassin bugs, in the subfamily Harpactorinae.
References
- ↑ Dmitri Forero (2006). "New records of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Colombia and other Neotropical countries" (PDF). Zootaxa . 1107: 1–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ↑ Wygodzinsky, P. (1947b) Sôbre alguns "Reduviidae" do Brazil central (Hemiptera). Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 7, 423–434.