Triatoma rubida
Life Cycle
Gradual metamorphosis
Eggs are laid in summer and take 3-5 weeks to hatch. Nymphs go through 5 stages requiring a blood meal and molting before entering the next stage. The nymph stage lasts through winter before entering the adult stage in the spring. Adults are capable of flying since wings are developed. Feeding takes 20-30 minutes and 1 week to digest.
Habits
- Diet: Blood feeders
- Activity: Feed at night and rest during the day, fly long distances to feed
- Preferred Climate: Temperate
- Defense: Large insect that can be intimidating.
- Cautions: Congregate around light sources. Humans sometimes have allergic responses. Spread Chagas disease through pathogen found in their feces. Brought into contact by rubbing affected area, eyes or mouth.
- Home Invasion: Occasionally enter homes. It is possible to wake up with mosquito-like bites and to find an engorged bug in the bed.
Helpful Hints
- Eliminate or minimize light sources around home
- Remove rodent nests around the home. In Arizona, they often inhabit packrat nests.
- Recommend regular pest control service plan.
Interesting Facts
Called Kissing Bug after the South American species that prefers to bite sleeping victims on the face about the lips.
Symptoms
One can go into shock at the time of a bite.
Nesting Sites
In or near the nests of pack rats or other rodents. Usually attracted to porch lights. May enter through doorways, gaps around doors and screens or up from crawlspaces. Once inside will hide under furniture, between mattresses, and in closets.
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