Review of Kissing Bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) from China with Descriptions of Two New Species

Simple Summary: Triatominae, commonly known as kissing bugs, are blood-feeding insects that can carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi to spread Chagas disease. In this study, we conducted a taxonomic review of Chinese triatomines, which involved describing two new species, Triatoma picta Zhao & Cai sp. nov. and T. atrata Zhao & Cai sp. nov. We also calculated the pairwise genetic distances of Triatoma and offered a key to species of Triatominae in China. This review may facilitate a better understanding of the diversity of Chinese kissing bugs. Triatominae, the only blood-sucking subfamily in Reduviidae, are the vectors of Chagas disease. The majority of them are distributed in the Americas, while the diversity in China has been underestimated, as only two species have been recorded. Here, we describe two new species from China, Triatoma picta Zhao & Cai sp. nov. and T. atrata Zhao & Cai sp. nov., and provide a redescription of T. sinica Hsiao, 1965, along with remarks on T. rubrofasciata (De Geer, 1773). To facilitate the identification, we include photos, especially of genitalia, as well as a distribution map and a key to Chinese triatomines. We calculated the pairwise genetic distances between 23 Triatoma species, which further supported the validity of these new species. We anticipate that our taxonomic review will be useful for identifying Chinese Triatominae.

Automated summary

This study conducted a taxonomic review of Chinese Triatominae, describing two new species and calculating genetic distances. It aims to facilitate the identification of Chinese kissing bugs.