A blood feeder Rhodnius prolixus, a species of kissing bug and one of the primary vectors of Chagas disease. (more) Rhodnius prolixus insect Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/Rhodnius-prolixus Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep. 19, 2025 •Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is Rhodnius prolixus? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Rhodnius prolixus is a parasitic, blood-feeding assassin bug native to northern South America. The insect, a species of kissing bug, is one of the primary vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease in humans and other mammals." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Where is Rhodnius prolixus native to? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Rhodnius prolixus is native to northern South America, specifically Colombia and Venezuela, where it occupies areas with diverse palm species, including tropical savannas, rainforests, and scrub forests. It was introduced to El Salvador in 1915 and subsequently spread throughout much of Central America and Mexico, but the species was formally declared eradicated in Central American and Mexico in 2010." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How does Rhodnius prolixus transmit Chagas disease? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Like other kissing bug vectors, Rhodnius prolixus transmits Chagas disease by depositing Trypanosoma cruzi in its excrement on the skin of a potential victim while feeding on the hostu2019s blood. The protozoan parasite can then enter the bloodstream through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin, often after the victim scratches the bite site." } } ] } Top Questions What is Rhodnius prolixus? Rhodnius prolixus is a parasitic, blood-feeding assassin bug native to northern South America. The insect, a species of kissing bug, is one of the primary vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease in humans and other mammals.

　　Where is Rhodnius prolixus native to? Rhodnius prolixus is native to northern South America, specifically Colombia and Venezuela, where it occupies areas with diverse palm species, including tropical savannas, rainforests, and scrub forests. It was introduced to El Salvador in 1915 and subsequently spread throughout much of Central America and Mexico, but the species was formally declared eradicated in Central American and Mexico in 2010.

　　How does Rhodnius prolixus transmit Chagas disease? Like other kissing bug vectors, Rhodnius prolixus transmits Chagas disease by depositing Trypanosoma cruzi in its excrement on the skin of a potential victim while feeding on the host’s blood. The protozoan parasite can then enter the bloodstream through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin, often after the victim scratches the bite site.

　　Rhodnius prolixus, parasitic species of South American assassin bug that is one of the primary vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease in humans, dogs, and other mammals. The insect, like other members of the kissing bug subfamily Triatominae, feeds on vertebrate blood and tends to bite the thin skin near their hosts’ mouths. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 7 million people worldwide are infected with T. cruzi (which can be acquired from several related insect vectors as well as from contaminated food and other sources), and more than 10,000 people die of ...(100 of 977 words)

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