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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Cimicomorpha » Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae) » Kissing Bugs (Triatominae)

Subfamily Triatominae - Kissing Bugs

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
Triatoma gerstaeckeri Dark assassin - Triatoma rubida 262224 - Triatoma sanguisuga Reduviid - Triatoma protracta Triatoma sanguisuga Triatoma Triatoma? - Triatoma Triatoma gerstaeckeri female and males, dorsal & dorso-lateral views - Triatoma gerstaeckeri - male - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder Cimicomorpha
Family Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Subfamily Triatominae (Kissing Bugs)
Other Common Names
Conenoses; barbeiro, bicudo, chupão (Brazil); vinchuca, chipo, pito, chinchorro, chirimacho, iquipito, chupon (in various Spanish-speaking Latin American countries); Bush Chinch (Belize)(1)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Triatominae Jeannel, 1919
Explanation of Names
Type-genus: Triatoma Laporte, 1832.
Numbers
ca. 120 spp. in 14 genera and 5 tribes worldwide (all but 12 s. Asian spp. are restricted to the Americas)(1); 11 spp. in 2 genera north of Mexico (one Paratriatoma spp., others in Triatoma)
Size
5-45 mm (most spp. 20-28 mm)(1). In the US, individuals range from 13-33 mm.
Identification
The subfamily is characterized by hemelytra without a quadrate cell, antennal segments not subdivided, transverse constriction of pronotum at or before middle, rostrum more or less straight (not arcuate) and antenniferous tubercles projecting laterally from head.

The subfamily was revised in a exceptional monograph by Lent & Wygodzinsky (1979)(2). This is undoubtedly the most important work in the vast sea of Triatominae literature, particularly regarding identification of the group's taxa.
Range
mostly New World (from s. Argentina to central US) + 12 spp. in s. Asia and a single pantropical sp. (Triatoma rubrofasciata) in Africa(1)
Habitat
Sheltered habitats used by the hosts(1) ie caves, logs, nests, human habitations, etc.
Food
Blood of various tetrapods (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians)(1).
Remarks
12 spp. in 3 genera (Triatoma, Rhodnius, Panstrongylus) are considered major vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi (the causative agent of Chagas Disease), but none of those occur in our area(1).
Internet References
Chagas Disease:
CDC page
Chagas Disease in a Domestic Transmission Cycle (so. Texas)
Works Cited
1.Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Gary Mullen, Lance Durden. 2002. Academic Press.
2.Revision of the Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), and their significance as vectors of Chagas' disease
H. Lent & P. Wygodzinsky. 1979. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 163: 1-520.
Contributed by v belov on 3 April, 2010 - 9:36pm
Additional contributions by drswanny
Last updated 5 April, 2010 - 12:41pm

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