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Subfamily Triatominae - Kissing Bugs
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
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 our area, 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), the most important work in the sea of Triatominae literature
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 (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)
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.
Works Cited 1. | Medical and Veterinary Entomology Gary Mullen, Lance Durden. 2002. Academic Press. |  |
3. | Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas' Disease in the United States Bern C., Kjos S., Yabsley M., Montgomery S.P. 2011. Clin. microbiol. rev. 24: 655-681. | |
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