Cavernicola (insect)

Cavernicola is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae. They are endemic to Panama and northern South America.[1][2] Like other members of the subfamily Triatominae, Cavernicola species primarily feed on vertebrate blood. Like other members of the subfamily, Cavernicola spp. can potentially transmit Trypanosoma cruzi (a known cause of Chagas disease), but they are not considered important vectors as they are strictly found in wild ecotopes and do not occur around dwellings.[2]

For the cave-dwelling flatworm suborder, see Cavernicola (worm).

Cavernicola
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Reduviidae
Subfamily: Triatominae
Tribe: Cavernicolini
Genus: Cavernicola
(Barber, 1937)

Cavernicola pilosa feeds primarily on bats, but has been reported as biting humans.[2][3]

Species
  • Cavernicola lenti (Barrett & Arias, 1985)
  • Cavernicola pilosa (Barber, 1937)

References
  1. Furman, Deane P. & Catts, F. Paul. Manual of Medical Entomology, Fourth Edition. Cambridge, UK: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, 1982. 48. ISBN 0-521-29920-9
  2. World Health Organization. Control of Chagas Disease. WHO technical Report Series, No. 905. 2002. 40-49. ISBN 92-4-120905-4
  3. O'Toole, Christopher. The New Encyclopedia of Insects and Their Allies. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2002. 100.
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