Triatoma gerstaeckeri

Description

Triatoma gerstaeckeri is an assassin bug in the genus Triatoma (kissing bugs). It is an important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. The range of T. gerstaeckeri includes New Mexico, most of Texas and northeast Mexico. T. gerstaeckeri goes through three stages during its paurometabolous life cycle: egg, nymphal instars and adult.