Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Triatoma protracta

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Order
  
Hemiptera

Family
  
Reduviidae

Scientific name
  
Triatoma protracta

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Suborder
  
Heteroptera

Genus
  
Triatoma

Higher classification
  
Triatoma

Triatoma protracta bugguidenetimagescacheFQ40OQFQ40OQ50Z0ZQCRFK

Similar
  
Triatoma, Kissing bugs, True bugs, Insect, Assassin Bug

Triatoma protracta is a species of insect in the family Reduviidae. It is known commonly as the western bloodsucking conenose. It is distributed in the western United States and Mexico.

This species and other "kissing bugs" are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan that causes Chagas disease.

This species is between 0.5 and 0.75 inches long. It is dark brown to black in color with a lighter margin along the abdomen. The wings lie flat across the back. The "beak" has three segments and curls beneath the head. The nymph is similar in appearance but it is smaller and lacks wings.

This insect and others of its genus live in the nests of animals such as pack rats (genus Neotoma). They become pests when they invade houses. They bite humans, producing irritation to the skin and sometimes severe allergic reactions.

References

Triatoma protracta Wikipedia