Assasin Bugs and chagas disease (american trypanosomiasis)

[KalgoLemmy]

Hello!!!
I am currently thinking about purchasing some Assasin Bugs,native to Africa and I was wondering,if all or just some latin American species carry chagas disease???
Thanks in advance!!!

 

[chanda]

Chagas disease is only transmitted by kissing bugs (Triatominae) which are just one small subfamily of assassin bugs. Because they are obligate blood feeders, Triatominae are not typically kept in captivity.

The vast majority of assassin bugs - including the assassin bugs that are kept as pets - are not blood feeders and do not transmit Chagas disease or any other diseases. They feed on other bugs. They can, however, give you a very painful (but not medically significant) bite/stab in self-defense if they feel threatened. It is not recommended to handle assassin bugs because of the risk of a bite. They aren't aggressive toward people - but if they're hungry, they could mistake a finger for prey, and if they feel like you are a potential threat, they'll try to "discourage" you.

 

[KalgoLemmy]

Chagas disease is only transmitted by kissing bugs (Triatominae) which are just one small subfamily of assassin bugs. Because they are obligate blood feeders, Triatominae are not typically kept in captivity.

The vast majority of assassin bugs - including the assassin bugs that are kept as pets - are not blood feeders and do not transmit Chagas disease or any other diseases. They feed on other bugs. They can, however, give you a very painful (but not medically significant) bite/stab in self-defense if they feel threatened. It is not recommended to handle assassin bugs because of the risk of a bite. They aren't aggressive toward people - but if they're hungry, they could mistake a finger for prey, and if they feel like you are a potential threat, they'll try to "discourage" you.

So I guess the Platymeris and Psytalla are fine right?

 

[chanda]

So I guess the Platymeris and Psytalla are fine right?

Yep! Painful bite - but no nasty diseases. I've kept both and have never been bitten, even though they have occasionally crawled onto my hands or arms during cage cleaning or rehousing. If you should manage to get bit, just keep the wound clean - as you would with any small puncture wound.

 

[Matts inverts]

It is only one or two species that have diseases and they aren’t in the trade. And even if the species you want can have one, it’s unlikely because captive bred is unlikely to carry it and you are trying not to get bit.

 

[chanda]

It is only one or two species that have diseases and they aren’t in the trade. And even if the species you want can have one, it’s unlikely because captive bred is unlikely to carry it and you are trying not to get bit.

Captive bred...Triatominae? Unlikely, given that they are obligate blood feeders. The only people raising them in captivity are likely to be researchers studying Triatominae and/or T. cruzi (the parasite that is transmitted by the Triatominae and that causes Chagas disease) - and they are not going to be selling them to hobbyists.

If anything, the opposite is true. If you do find a hobbyist who has any kissing bugs, they are almost certainly going to be wild caught. Sometimes people will find an interesting bug and try to keep it as a pet - or sell/trade it to someone else - either not knowing what it is and what it eats or hoping it could be convinced to take crickets or other conventional feeders. I've "kept" a few wild-caught Triatominae myself - but only until they died, because I wanted to add them to my insect collection.

The captive-bred species that you are going to find in the trade are not Triatominae. They are predatory assassin bugs that eat other bugs.

 

[Spoodfood]

Like others said, not a worry with captive bred specimens. I keep Platymeris biguttatus and they are pretty chill for the most part. When I clean the enclosure I can usually just move the cork bark with them on it and they stay put. (I use tongs to move the bark, I feel as if I have to add that for some reason). If they do bite you, it’s gonna hurt pretty bad though. But you have to stay up on cleaning with them, or you’ll be left with an enclosure of carcasses!

 

[goliathusdavid]

This doesn't apply to the OP (as they are in Greece) but I also feel it is important to note that these are tightly regulated within the US due to threats to native pollinators. Though enforcement ranges from lacking to non-existent, illegal keeping of these can come with consequences, and accidental introductions can be disastrous.
Platymeris biguttatus are fun (or as fun as assassin bugs can be), and truly a sight to behold. Would still advise tremendous caution however, even without the risk of Chagas.

 

[Matts inverts]

I have the white spots. Mine are still in the third or fourth molt. My experience with them is some will be chill but one was sitting on top of the hide for a day in defense because I tried to rehouse it. They will defend try to bite but mostly in defense. If you do definitely order, just be super careful because they are super cool but can hurt you.

 

[KalgoLemmy]

Great!Thanks for the information!!