Formal Assignation of the Kissing Bug <i>Triatoma lecticularia</i> (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) to the Genus <i>Paratriatoma</i>

• Main Authors: Vinicius Fernandes de Paiva, Jader de Oliveira, Cleber Galvão, Silvia Andrade Justi, José Manuel Ayala Landa, João Aristeu da Rosa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Insects
• Subjects: taxonomy; vectors; Heteroptera; Triatomini; North America
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/6/538

The subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) comprises hematophagous insects that are vectors of Chagas disease; including species assigned to the genera <i>Triatoma</i> and <i>Paratriatoma</i>. Initial examination of <i>Triatoma lecticularia</i> revealed the hirsuteness covering the entire body—a characteristic and striking feature of members of the genus <i>Paratriatoma</i>—and a systematic study revealed several other morphological characters that are in diagnostic alignment with <i>Paratriatoma</i>. Based on the examination of several specimens (including the lectotype), and with the additional support of molecular and cytogenetic data, we propose the formal transferal of <i>Triatoma lecticularia</i> (Stål, 1859) into the genus <i>Paratriatoma</i> with the resulting new combination: <i>Paratriatoma lecticularia</i> (Stål, 1859) comb. nov. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae).