Information on Species of Triatomine Bugs in the United States

Key points

Information on Species of Triatomine Bugs in the United States

Information on Species of Triatomine Bugs in the United States

Illustrating the size of the Paratriatoma hirsuta
The Paratriatoma hirsuta ranges in size from .5 to .6 inches.

Key characteristics:

  1. Long, dark hairs covering entire body
  2. Head short, strongly convex above
  3. Overall color various shades of brown, body shiny
  4. Legs short with long hairs
Map highlighting California, Nevada, and New Mexico.
Paratriatoma hirsuta are found in California, Nevada, and New Mexico.

Key characteristics:

  1. Yellow markings extending horizontally on abdominal segments
  2. Head long, flattened on top
  3. Mouthparts relatively hairless with longer hairs at tip
  4. Pronotum uniformly black
  5. Tip of scutellum long, narrow
  6. Legs slender, long
Details of the size and markings on the Triatoma gerstaeckeri.
Notice the yellow markings on the side body of the Triatoma gerstaeckeri. It ranges in size from .9 to 1.1 inches.
Details of the Triatoma gerstaeckeri's head
The long head with a flat top and relatively hairless mouthparts of the Triatoma gerstaeckeri .
Details of the Triatoma gerstaeckeri head and legs.
The tip of the Triatoma gerstaeckeri's head is long and narrow with long, slender legs.
Map of New Mexico and Texas
Triatoma gerstaeckeri are found in New Mexico and Texas.

Illustrating size and shape of the Triatoma incrassata.
The Triatoma incrassata ranges in size from .7 to .8 inches.

Key characteristics:

  1. Abdomen entirely yellow underneath with distinct yellow margin around edge on top
  2. Head elevated above eyes in lateral view
  3. Mouthparts with short hairs, longer hairs on terminal segment
  4. Pronotum uniformly dark
  5. Tip of scutellum short, broad
Map highlighting Arizona.
Triatoma incrassata are found in Arizona.

Key characteristics:

  1. Reddish-orange markings extending horizontally on abdominal segments confined to ~1/5 of each segment
  2. Pronotum uniformly black
  3. Wings without prominent, light-colored markings
Details of the markings and size of the Triatoma indictiva.
The size of the Triatoma indictiva ranges from .7 to .9 inches and has reddish-orange markings down the sides of the body.
Detailed characteristics of the Triatoma indictiva.
The pronotum is uniformly black on the Triatoma indictiva.
Details of the head of the Triatoma indictiva.
Details of the Triatoma indictiva's head.
Map highlighting Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Triatoma indictiva are found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Key characteristics:

  1. Dark hairs covering entire body
  2. Orange-yellow markings extending horizontally on abdominal segments
  3. Mouthparts with hairs on all segments, denser on terminal segments
  4. Pronotum with orange-yellow lateral markings
  5. Legs covered with hair
Detail of the thorax of the Triatoma lecticularia.
The Triatoma lecticularia has dark hairs covering the entire body and orange-yellow lateral markings on the abdomen.
Details of the size and markings of the Triatoma lecticularia.
The Triatoma lecticularia ranges in size from .6 to .9 inches and has orange-yellow lateral markings on the abdomen.
Details of the head of the Triatoma lecticularia.
The mouthparts of the Triatoma lecticularia contain hairs on all segments and are denser on terminal segments.
U.S. map highlighting FL, GA, MO, NM, OK, TN, TX and SC.
Triatoma lecticularia are found in Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina

Key characteristics:

  1. Body shiny, abdomen longitudinally flattened underneath
  2. Black, irregularly-shaped band on each abdominal segment surrounded by yellow markings
  3. Mouthparts with hairs on all segments, denser at junction of terminal 2 segments forming a brushlike structure
  4. Wings with distinct orange to pale yellow markings on basal half
  5. Legs short, stout
Detailed image showing the thorax of the Triatoma neotomae.
The Triatoma neotomae has a shiny body and a flattened underside of its abdomen.
Details of the size and markings of the Triatoma neotomae.
The size of the Triatoma neotomae ranges from .7 to .8 inches.
Detail of the head of the Triatoma neotomae.
Detailed image of the head of the Triatoma neotomae species.
Map highlighting Texas.
Triatoma neotomae are found in Texas.

Key Characteristics

  1. Overall dark brown to black
  2. Mouthparts with short hairs; becoming longer at tip
  3. Pronotum uniformly light brown to black
  4. Tip of scutellum short, broad
  5. Legs short, stout
Image illustrating the size of the Triatoma protracta species.
The Triatoma protracta ranges from .5 to .9 inches.
Detail of the head of the Triatoma protracta.
The mouthparts of the Triatoma protracta have short hairs that become longer at tip.
Detailed characteristics of the Triatoma protracta's thorax.
The Triatoma protracta has a uniformly light brown to black pronotum and a short, broad tip of the scutellum.
Map highlighting Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.
The Triatoma protracta is found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.

Illustrating the size and shape of the Triatoma recurva.
The Triatoma recurva ranges in size from 1 to 1.3 inches.

Key Characteristics

  1. Yellow-orange margin around outer edge of abdomen; abdomen wide often strongly curved up at edges
  2. Mouthparts relatively hairless with longer hairs at tip
  3. Pronotum uniformly dark colored
  4. Tip of scutellum long, narrow
  5. Wings uniformly dark colored
  6. Legs long, slender
Map highlighting Arizona.
The Triatoma recurva is found in Arizona.

Key Characteristics

  1. Pale margin around outer edge of abdomen, abdomen flattened longitudinally underneath
  2. The first antennal segment reaches or surpasses tip of head
  3. Mouthparts with long hairs at tip
  4. Overall color light reddish brown to dark brown
  5. Pronotum dark with light areas on sides
Details of the unique characteristics and size of the Triatoma rubida.
The Triatoma rubida ranges in size from .6 to .9 inches and has a pale margin around the body and a dark pronotum with light areas.
Details of the Triatoma rubida head.
The first antennal segment reaches or surpasses tip of head on the Triatoma rubida.
Details of the Triatoma rubida's mouthparts and head.
The Triatoma rubida has long hairs at the tip of its mouthparts.
Map of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Map highlight Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas where the Triatoma rubida can be found.

Key Characteristics

  1. Orange-red margin on outer edge of abdomen, extending horizontally between segments
  2. First antennal segment surpasses tip of head
  3. Short hairs on mouthparts becoming progressively longer towards tip
  4. Scutellum broad, triangular to tip
  5. Orange-red margin on sides of pronotum
  6. Abdomen flattened longitudinally underneath
Size and characteristics of the Triatoma rubrofasciata.
The Triatoma rubrofasciata can range in size from .8 to 1 inch and has an orange-red margin on the outer edge of the body.
Characteristics of the Triatoma rubrofasciata antennae and mouthparts.
The first antennal segment of the Triatoma rubrofasciata surpasses the head and short hairs on mouthparts becoming longer towards the tip.
Details of the Triatoma rubrofasciata's body.
The Triatoma rubrofasciata's scutellum is broad and triangular to the tip. It also has an orange-red margin on sides of the pronotum.
Map highlighting Florida and Hawaii.
The Tiratoma rubrofascita is found in Florida and Hawaii.

Key Characteristics

  1. Orange-red to yellowish horizontal markings covering ≥¼ of abdominal segment
  2. Mouthparts relatively hairless
  3. Pronotum black with orange-red to yellowish side and top margins
  4. Tip of scutellum long, narrow
  5. Distinctive orange-red to yellowish markings on wings
Details of the Triatoma sanguisuga's markings and size.
Triatoma sanguisuga ranges in size from .6 to .9 inches, has horizontal markings some of the body, and has markings on its wings.
Details of the head of the Triatoma sanguisuga.
Triatoma sanguisuga head
Map highlighting FL, TX, KS, KY, LA, AL, AR, NC, OH, OK, NJ, MD, DC, DE, MS, MO, IL, IN, TN, WV, PN, GA, SC, and VA.
The Triatoma sanguisuga is found in FL, TX, KS, KY, LA, AL, AR, NC, OH, OK, NJ, MD, DC, DE, MS, MO, IL, IN, TN, WV, PN, GA, SC, and VA.