Dipetalogaster (Usinger 1939) - One species:

1. Dipetalogaster maxima (Mexico)

Dipetalogaster maxima (Uhler 1894)

Distribution

Characteristics

- The largest species of Triatominae (33-42mm)

- Overall body color black, with reddish stripe along outer edge of connexivum

- Body not flattened, surface smooth, not granulose; setae shortand sparse

- Head elongated subcilindrical. First and third rostral segment short, second elongated

- Third rostral segment with double invaginated flaslike rostral organ

- Prosternum with stridulatory sulcus

- Legs strong, elongate; spongy fossulae absent in both sexes

- Urotergites connected by expandible membrane

- Medial process of pygophore subrectangular, truncate

Biology

- Lives in deserts, found among exfoliative rocks. But this species has also been found in human dwellings.

- Their natural hosts seem to be principally lizards and woodrats

- Very aggessive: even around noon on very hot days, they emerge to attack people resting on the rocks

- Is naturally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi (Jiménez et al. 2003)

- Adapted to suck large bloodmeals due to extraordinary abdominal extension. Possibly an advantage under the harsh semiarid or arid conditions where this species occurs.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Badauy RC, Silva IG, Silva HHG & Dias MS. 2000. Interspecific relationship between Dipetalogaster maximus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and Trypanosoma cruzi strain Y (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). An. Soc. Entomol. Brasil 29(4): 659-666.

Carcavallo RU, Curto de Casas SI, Sherlock IA, Galindez Giron I, Jurberg J, Galvao C, Menas Segura CA & Noireau F. 1999. Geographical distribution and alti-latitudinal dispersion. In: Atlas of Chagas’ Disease Vectors in the Americas (RU Carcavallo, I Galindez Giron, J Jurberg & H Lent: Eds), vol III: 747-792. Editora Fiocruz – Rio de Janeiro.

Jiménez ML, Llinas J & Palacios C. 2003. Infection rates in Dipetalogaster maxima (Reduviidae: Triatominae) by Trypanosoma cruzi in Cape Region, Baja California Sur, Mexico. J. Med. Entomol. 40(1): 18-21 2003.

Johnson CE, Oakley EF, Marsden PD. 1984. Mortality of Dipetalogaaster maximus (Uhler) in response to temperature and humidity. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop. 17(1): 17-20.

Larousse F. 1924. Description de la femelle de Triatoma maxima (Uhler, 1894).

Lent H & Jurberg J. 1972. O gênero Dipetalogaster Usinger, 1939, com um estudio sôbre a genitalia externa (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae). Stud. Entomol. 15(1-4): 465-484.

Lent H & Wygodzinsky P. 1979. Revision of the Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) and their significance as vectors of Chagas’ disease. Bull. American Mus. Nat. Hist. 163(art.3): 125-520

Ryckman RE. 1986. The vertebrate hosts of the Triatominae of North and Central America and the West Indies. (Hemiptera: Reduviidea: Triatominae). Bull. Soc. Vector Ecol. 11(2): 221-241

Uhler PR. 1984. Observations upon the Heteropterous Hemiptera of Lower California with description of new species. Proc. California Acad. Sc. 4(2): 223-295.

Usinger RL. 1939. Description of a new Triatominae with a key to Genera (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). Univ. California Public Entomol. 7(3): 33-56.