Description of triatoma mopan sp. N. from a cave in belize (hemiptera, reduviidae, triatominae)

Abstract

In this paper, Triatoma mopan sp. n. is described based on five males and six females collected in the Rio Frio cave, Cayo District, Belize. This species is similar to Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille), but can be distinguished by characters found on the pronotum, legs, and abdomen. Geometric morphometry and phylogenetic comparisons are also provided. Presently, the species is known only from the type locality and is a potential Chagas vector.