Triatoma protracta is a species of bugs in the family Reduviidae. It is known commonly as the western bloodsucking conenose. It is distributed in the western United States and Mexico.
The Reduviidae are a large cosmopolitan family of the order Hemiptera. Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators: most other predatory Hemiptera are aquatic. The main examples of nonpredatory Reduviidae are some blood-sucking ectoparasites in the subfamily Triatominae. Though spectacular exceptions are known, most members of the family are fairly easily recognizable; they have a relatively narrow neck, sturdy build, and a formidable curved proboscis. Large specimens should be handled with caution, if at all, because they sometimes defend themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.
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 few 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.
Triatoma infestans, commonly called winchuka or vinchuca in Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Chile, barbeiro in Brazil, chipo in Venezuela and also known as "kissing bug" or "barber bug" in English, is a blood-sucking bug and the most important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi which can lead to Chagas disease. It is widespread in the Southern Cone countries of South America. This region has joined the control intervention called Southern Cone Initiative managed by the PAHO.
Triatoma is a genus of assassin bug in the subfamily Triatominae. The members of Triatoma are blood-sucking insects that can transmit serious diseases, such as Chagas disease. Their saliva may also trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, up to and including severe anaphylactic shock.
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.
Panstrogylus geniculatus is a blood-sucking sylvatic insect noted as a putative vector of minor importance in the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi to humans; this is a parasite, which causes Chagas disease. The insect is described as sylvatic; subsisting primarily in humid forests, and is also known to inhabit vertebrate nesting places such as those of the armadillo, and is also involved in enzootic transmission of T. cruzi to those species. It has wide distribution throughout 16 Latin American countries.
Triatoma nigromaculata is a sylvatic species of insect usually found in hollow trees, in vertebrate nests on trees and occasionally in human dwellings. It usually lives in relatively humid forests at high altitudes on mountain regions and foot hills. As all members of the subfamily Triatominae, T. nigromaculata is a blood-sucking bug and a potential vector of Chagas disease. This species is distributed mainly in Venezuela, but some specimens have also been found in Perú and Colombia (Cauca).
Triatoma melanica is a hematophagous insect, a Chagas disease vector, included in the Triatominae group. It occurs in the north of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and is found almost exclusively in silvatic environment. However, sporadically it may also invade houses. T. melanica was originally described as Triatoma brasiliensis melanica Neiva & Lent, 1941. Recently, it was redescribed with a new specific status, due to its distinct morphology, genetics, and biogeographic characteristics.
Triatoma brasiliensis is now considered the most important Chagas disease vector in the semiarid areas of northeastern Brazil. T. brasiliensis occurs in 12 Brazilian states, including Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, and Paraíba.
Triatoma rubrovaria is an insect which is ubiquitous in Uruguay, in neighboring parts of northeastern Argentina, and in the southern states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. This species of triatomine is found mainly among exfoliate rocks known as pedregales. It was earlier reported as T. (triatoma) rubrovaria, a sylvatic species inhabiting rock piles, rarely found in human dwellings. This species may be a highly competent vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. In Rio Grande do Sul, data from the Chagas disease Control Program have indicated an increasing of domiciliary and peridomiciliary invasion of T. rubrovaria, where it has become the most frequently triatomine species captured in that State since the control of T. infestans.
Triatoma platensis is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in South America.
Triatoma gerstaeckeri is an assassin bug in the genus Triatoma. It is an important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. The range of T. gerstaeckeri is from the south-western United States and north-eastern Mexico. T. gerstaeckeri goes through three stages during its paurometabolous life cycle: egg, nymphal instars and adult.
Triatoma lecticularia is a species of kissing bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Triatoma recurva is a species of kissing bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in Central America and North America. Like all of the kissing bugs in the genus Triatoma, it is an obligate blood feeder that primarily targets vertebrates. However, individuals can consume the hemolymph of arthropods, and can develop to maturity on a diet consisting entirely of cockroaches.
Triatoma rubida is a species of kissing bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Triatoma neotomae is a species of kissing bug in the family Reduviidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Panstrongylus megistus is a blood-drinking insect in the subfamily Triatominae. It is found in the Guianas, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, and is an important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, particularly in Brazil. Besides humans, P. megistus is known to feed on birds, rodents, horses, dogs, opossums and bats.
Triatoma sordida is an assassin bug within the genus Triatoma. This species consists of three subspecies. Also referred to as kissing bugs, T.sordida are most well known for their role as a secondary vector of Chagas Disease. Inhabiting warm, dry climates, T.sordida are widely distributed throughout South America, occupying houses, farming structures, and wild habitats. Pest control is currently focused on insecticide application. However, biological controls utilizing fungi appear promising.
