What does a triatomine bug look like? - briefly
A triatomine is an elongated, dorsoventrally flattened insect, usually brown to reddish‑brown, with a narrow head, long slender antennae, and partially developed wing‑like hemelytra covering the abdomen. Its legs are long and often spined, and the abdomen tapers toward the posterior end.
What does a triatomine bug look like? - in detail
Triatomine insects are elongated, laterally flattened arthropods ranging from 12 mm to 30 mm in length. Their bodies comprise three distinct regions: a relatively small, rounded head; a robust thorax bearing four legs and two short, leathery forewings (hemelytra); and a broad, tapered abdomen that expands posteriorly.
Key morphological traits:
- Head: convex, equipped with a pair of prominent compound eyes and three ocelli; mouthparts form a curved, needle‑like proboscis (rostrum) used for blood feeding.
- Antennae: four segmented, slender, and mobile, positioned laterally on the head.
- Thorax: bears two pairs of wings; the forewings are short, hardened at the base and membranous at the tip, while the hindwings are fully membranous and folded beneath the forewings at rest.
- Legs: long, slender, and adapted for climbing; each leg ends in a set of tarsal claws.
- Abdomen: segmented, often displaying a dorsal coloration of reddish‑brown to dark brown with lighter lateral margins; some species exhibit a distinct pale “hourglass” or transverse band on the dorsal surface.
- Surface texture: exoskeleton is smooth to slightly granulated, covered by fine setae that may give a faintly fuzzy appearance.
Variation among species includes differences in size (e.g., Triatoma infestans typically 20–25 mm, Rhodnius prolixus up to 30 mm), coloration patterns (some species possess a conspicuous pale stripe along the abdomen), and wing length (certain tropical species have relatively longer forewings). Nymphal stages retain the overall body plan but are smaller, lack fully developed wings, and display progressively darker pigmentation with each molt.