Blood sucking hemipterans found in Latin America and which serve as vectors for Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause of Chagas’ Disease. These insects are also known as ‘cone nose bugs’, ‘assassin bugs’ or ‘triatomids’. They belong to the family Reduviidae and the genera Rhodnius and Triatoma, Panstrongylus amongst others.
n. any one of a group of winged insects (Reduviidae) whose mouthparts – adapted for piercing and sucking – take the form of a long proboscis that is tucked beneath the head when not in use. Some South American genera, notably Panstrongylus, Rhodnius, and Triatoma – the kissing bugs, are nocturnal bloodsucking insects that transmit the parasite causing *Chagas’ disease.... reduviid
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