Temporal Variations of Fluctuating Asymmetry in Wing Size and Shape of Triatoma Infestans Populations From Northwest Argentina Infect Genet Evol. Triatoma infestans are relatively large insects, about 35mm (3.5cm) in length. Triatoma sanguisuga; Triatomines are mostly active at night and feed on the blood of mammals (including humans), birds, and reptiles. 2017 Dec 6;11(12):e0006097. eCollection 2017 Dec. A third pair of legs act like arms that are attached to the trapezoidal thorax near its protruding bulbous eyes. Body size and hosts of Triatoma infestans populations affect the size of bloodmeal contents and female fecundity in rural northwestern Argentina. Triatomine bugs live in a wide range of environmental settings, generally within close proximity to an animal the bug can feed on, called a blood host. 2017 Dec;56:133-142. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.11.012. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006097.
It is about one inch (2.5 cm) long, has two pairs of long, bent legs attached to an oval-shaped abdomen. Their bodies are divided into three major segments: head, thorax, and abdomen. This vector species occupies a wide variety of (peri)domestic habitats in this region [31–33]. Triatoma infestansis a nocturnal predator that blood feeds on mammals while they are asleep. The area where Triatoma infestans was the most important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in the Southern Cone of South America was reduced by well over 90%, and Rhodnius prolixus has been eliminated from Central America, among other successful results. The mouthparts are adapted for piercing and sucking. 1. PLoS Negl Trop Dis.
The head is quite elongate and attached to the thorax via a narrow neck. Triatoma infestans from human sleeping quarters (domestic habitats or domiciles) mainly blood-feeds on humans, dogs, chickens and cats every 3–4 days over the austral spring-summer period in rural villages of the Argentine Chaco [27–30].