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Biology of Triatominae

Abstract:

Research on the Triatominae has traditionally concentrated on those of greatest epidemiological significance as domestic vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease. This means only a few of them, representing 3 genera in 2 tribes, while the Triatominae are admittedly composed of 18 genera (or more, depending on authors) and 5 tribes. Our knowledge on the biology of Triatominae is thus obviously fragmentary. Most of the Triatominae are found in the New World, a very few others in the Old World. They are hematophagous bugs living in close association with their silvatic hosts in habitats such as palm-tree crowns, bird nests, rodent burrows, opossum lodges, rockpiles. This chapter summarizes current knowledge about Triatominae adapted to the domestic environment (called "domestic Triatominae"), their development, reproduction, feeding and dispersion behavior, reproduction and demography, with a few insights about silvatic species. The link is discussed with related epidemiologically important attributes, like vectorial capacity and sensibility to control measures.