Triatome, commonly known as kissing bugs, are blood-sucking insects that belong to the Reduviidae family.
They are vectors for Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that causes Chagas disease in humans.
They are primarily found in the Americas, where they live in cracks and crevices of poorly constructed homes in rural and urban areas.
Their main source of food is the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes humans.
Preventive measures such as improving housing quality, using insecticide-treated materials, and maintaining a clean living environment are important in reducing the risk of transmission of Chagas disease by triatomine bugs.