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Panstrongylus geniculatus
These bugs usually share shelter with nesting vertebrates, from which they suck blood. In areas where Chagas disease occurs (from the southern United States to southern Argentina and Chile), all triatomine species are potential vectors of Chagas' Disease. Most species are associated with wild nesting vertebrates, especially mammals.They can be in ground burrows with rodents, or any mammal such as an opossum or in tree-dwellings with bats, birds and other mammals. Many species live in human dwellings or in the surroundings of human houses. Danger: Both domestic and sylvatic species can carry Chagas' Disease (a trypanosome protozoan parasite of humans and all mammals; birds are immune to the parasite. Trypanosoma cruzi transmission is carried mainly from human to human by domestic kissing bugs; from the vertebrate to the bug by blood feeding, and from the bug to the vertebrate by the insect's feces and not by its saliva as occurs in most bloodsucking arthropod vectors. Triatomine infestation especially affects unkempt or rustic dwellings, especially those with dirt floors, adobe or mud walls and thatch roofing. In some species, P. geniculatus included, the nymphs will camouflage themselves with dirt particles by throwing dirt on their backs with their hind legs.
Rainforest
Lauren, thank you for both the ID & the info. This was spotted in the jungle not in our hut I'm pleased to say!
Hi Karen, Wow!!! You have a Triatomine vector of Chagas's Disease here. Amazing. This is Panstrongylus geniculatus of the Subfamily Triatominae of the Family Reduviidae. These are vectors in all 5 nymphal instars and in both sexes of the adults, since all feed on blood. I hope you didn't find this in your bed or wherever you are staying.
They are mainly found and widespread in the Americas,These bugs usually share shelter with nesting vertebrates, from which they suck blood. In areas where Chagas disease occurs (from the southern United States to southern Argentina and Chile), all triatomine species are potential vectors of Chagas' Disease. Most species are associated with wild nesting vertebrates, especially mammals.They can be in ground burrows with rodents, or any mammal such as an opossum or in tree-dwellings with bats, birds and other mammals. Many species live in human dwellings or in the surroundings of human houses.
Danger: Both domestic and sylvatic species can carry Chagas' Disease (a trypanosome protozoan parasite of humans and all mammals; birds are immune to the parasite. Trypanosoma cruzi transmission is carried mainly from human to human by domestic kissing bugs; from the vertebrate to the bug by blood feeding, and from the bug to the vertebrate by the insect's feces and NOT by its saliva as occurs in most bloodsucking arthropod vectors. Triatomine infestation especially affects unkempt or rustic dwellings, especially those with dirt floors, adobe or mud walls and thatch roofing. In some species, P. geniculatus included, the nymphs will camouflage themselves with dirt particles by throwing dirt on their backs with their hind legs.
You are finding such neat stuff where you are, but be careful of these.
Spotted on Dec 6, 2012
Submitted on Dec 11, 2012
