Subfamily Triatominae - Kissing Bugs

Conenoses; barbeiro, bicudo, chupão (Brazil); vinchuca, chipo, pito, chinchorro, chirimacho, iquipito, chupon (in various Spanish-speaking Latin American countries); Bush Chinch (Belize)(1)

Triatominae Jeannel 1919

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)

5-45 mm (most spp. 20-28 mm)(1), in our area, 13-33 mm

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), the most important work in the sea of Triatominae literature

mostly New World (from s. Argentina to central US) + 12 spp. in s. Asia and a single pantropical sp. (Triatoma rubrofasciata) in Africa(1)

Sheltered habitats used by the hosts(1) ie caves, logs, nests, human habitations, etc.

Blood of various tetrapods(1)

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)

Many specimens of species of Triatoma have been positive for T. cruzi in our area, but they are mostly concentrated in the southwest and Texas, but data is lacking. In Florida, specimens of T. sanguisuga have been positive in only one county or so. Same for Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana. In the west and Texas, T. gerstaeckeri, T. protracta, T. recurva, and T. rubida are the main vectors with positive specimens collected from the most counties.