Nocturnal Predators: Triatoma infestans and other Triatomine species
Triatoma infestans
Triatoma infestans is a nocturnal predator that blood feeds on mammals while they are asleep. It is about one inch (2.5 cm) long, has two pairs of long, bent legs attached to an oval-shaped abdomen. A third pair of legs act like arms that are attached to the trapezoidal thorax near its protruding bulbous eyes. A proboscis (slender, needle-like projection) extends from the anterior head that is used to pierce skin and suck blood - a vampire-bug.
T. infestans is yellow-orange with black marking on top of its abdomen. Males are larger than females. Their wings are thin, transparent, and cover the top of the abdomen. Only adults have wings, which are inefficient for flying but effective for gliding and mounting their mate during sex. Triatomines prefer nesting in roofs and ceilings, where they glide down upon sleeping humans. They are directed towards humans and other warm-blooded creatures by radar-like heat sensors in their antennas. Triatomines glide over 100 meters assisted by air currents. Gliding enables triatomines to travel throughout communities, colonizing house after house.
This is not T. infestans. This animal is Rhiginia cinctiventris, sometimes called an Assassin bug
This article was published on Monday 12 November, 2007.
Triatoma infestans is a nocturnal predator that blood feeds on mammals while they are asleep. It is about one inch (2.5 cm) long, has two pairs of long, bent legs attached to an oval-shaped abdomen. A third pair of legs act like arms that are attached to the trapezoidal thorax near its protruding bulbous eyes. A proboscis (slender, needle-like projection) extends from the anterior head that is used to pierce skin and suck blood - a vampire-bug. 
This is not 