Development of an operational trap for collection, killing, and preservation of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): the kissing bug kill trap

Abstract

Surveillance of triatomines or kissing bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), the insect vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, a Chagas disease agent, is hindered by the lack of an effective trap. To develop a kissing bug trap, we made iterative improvements over 3 years on a basic design resulting in 7 trap prototypes deployed across field sites in Texas, United States and Northern Mexico, yielding the capture of 325 triatomines of 4 species (Triatoma gerstaeckeri [Stål], T. sanguisuga [LeConte], T. neotomae [Neiva], and T. rubida [Uhler]). We began in 2019 with vertical transparent tarpaulin panel traps illuminated with artificial light powered by AC current, which were successful in autonomous trapping of flying triatomines, but were expensive, labor-intensive, and fragile. In 2020, we switched to white LED lights powered by a solar cell. We tested a scaled-down version of the vertical panel traps, a commercial cross-vane trap, and a multiple-funnel trap. The multiple-funnel traps captured 2.6× more kissing bugs per trap-day than cross-vane traps and approached the performance of the vertical panel traps in number of triatomines captured, number of triatomines per trap-day and triatomines per arthropod bycatch. Multiple-funnel traps required the least labor, were more durable, and had the highest triatomines per day per cost. Propylene glycol in the collection cups effectively preserved captured triatomines allowing for molecular detection of T. cruzi. The trapping experiments established dispersal patterns for the captured species. We conclude that multiple-funnel traps with solar-powered LED lights should be considered for adoption as surveillance and potentially mass-trapping management tools for triatomines.

Keywords: Mexico; Texas; multiple-funnel trap; surveillance; trapping.

Fig. 1.

Locations for kissing bug trap experiments, 2019–2021 in Texas, United States and Northern Mexico.

Fig. 2.

Experimental vertical single panel traps with fluorescent blacklight A) and blue LED flood light B) tested in Texas, United States in 2019. Components include a transparent tarpaulin barrier panel, tarpaulin collecting funnel, lower aluminum funnel, white U-tube drainage tunnel, collection container and support T-posts with nylon ropes.

Fig. 3.

Prototype traps deployed in Texas, United States comprising scaled-down vertical single panel trap A) tested in 2020, cross-vane trap B) tested in 2020, and multiple-funnel trap C) tested in 2020 and 2021. All traps have 2 identical large LED flood lights and solar panels with internal batteries mounted above.

Fig. 4.

Seasonal capture phenology (triatomines per trap per day) of 4 Triatoma spp. Pooled for all traps and locations in 2019 (South Texas and Bastrop, Texas), 2020 (South Texas and College Station, Texas), and 2021 (South Texas and Northern Mexico). None captured indicates that the traps were active but no triatomines were captured.