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The Bloodsuckers' Rosegarden

(Information on Triatomine bugs)

Notice: I have (long) finished my PhD thesis and do not find the time needed anymore to constantly and thorougly update these pages. They will therefore no longer carry the latest information on Triatomine bugs; the last papers incorporated are from about the end of 1998. Nevertheless, these pages should still carry some valuable information for those interested in Triatomine bugs. And if you do stumble accross something that you think should be definately changed or added, drop a line: triatomarose.net, and I'll try to fix it.

These page were written  by me, Andreas Rose, during my studies at the Institute for Zoology of the University of Regensburg. As a member of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Boeckh's (who has now retired) research group, I investigated the host-finding behavior of a blood-sucking bug from South America. The bug has the scientific name Triatoma infestans (Klug 1834).

Triatoma infestans (Klug 1834), male.
Length: 2.5 cm

(Picture: Zumpt, F. (1956). Insekten als Krankheitserreger und Krankheitsüberträger. Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart. "After Abalos and Wygodzinsky.")

Triatoma infestans is one of the most prominent members of a group called Triatomine bugs (Triatominae, English: kissing bugs or cone-nosed bugs, Spanish: vinchucas, Portuguese: barbeiros), which in turn belong to the Heteroptera, or true bugs. There are more than 110 different Triatomines. The large majority of these live in the Americas.

All Triatomine bugs feed on blood, regardless of their age or sex. Some, including Triatoma infestans, live in and near human habitations where they hide in cracks, crevices, under the roof, and in similar locations. During the night, they emerge to search for humans or other warm-blooded animals. These domestic Triatomines are important vectors of Chagas disease. The flagellate Trypanosoma cruzi that causes Chagas disease is transmitted not through the bite, but with the feces which is given off by the bug during, or shortly afterfeeding, and that is brought into contact with the eyes, the mouth, or wounds of the host.

More information about Triatoma infestans and other Triatomines:

• Pictures of Triatoma infestans.
• A short review of the host finding of Triatomines as well as the biology of Triatoma infestans.
• A literature list on the biology of Triatoma infestans and other Triatomines.
• A list of links to other servers with information on Triatomines or on people who work with them.
• Carl Olson from the University of Arizona wrote a very informative article on kissing bugs in Arizona, where he answers many questions people usually have on Triatomines in the US.
• Similar and some additional information can be found in my Kissing Bug FAQ.

Here are some other links that I found interesting (updated 10.VI. 2003).They should be a halfway good starting point for those who want to explore the internet resources on entomology and parasitology.

External links disclaimer: Although links to other sites have been pre-screened and assessed for appropriate content, I am not responsible for any contents linked or referred to from my pages. I do not take responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of any of these external links.