title: First Record of Triatoma maculata (Erichson, 1848) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatomini) in the Municipality of Riohacha, La Guajira - Colombia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowledge of vector insect species, their habitat, and geographical distribution is crucial for determining the risk of transmission of the etiological agents that cause disease in humans, which allows defining strategies for prevention, surveillance, and control in line with the characteristics of each area.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the presence and public health importance of vectors of Chagas disease in the indigenous settlements of Marbacella and El Horno of the Wayúu ethnic group in the municipality of Riohacha, La Guajira, Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  From active search, installation and inspection of biosensors, and occasional catches, Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatomini were collected intra and in the peridomicile housing of the indigenous settlements of El Horno and Marbacella of the Wayúu ethnic group. Indices of intra and peridomestic infestation, colonization, density, dispersion, and natural infection with Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909 were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  79.6% (n = 90) of the specimens were collected in the peridomicile and 20.3% (n = 23) in the intradomicile, all corresponding to Triatoma maculata (Erichson, 1848). The natural infection indices with T. cruzi accounted for 43.5% for Marbacella and 36% for El Horno.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first reported capture of individuals of T. maculata, considered a secondary vector of Chagas disease in Colombia, naturally infected with T. cruzi in the municipality of Riohacha expanding the geographical distribution of the species in the department of La Guajira.
authors.affiliation: Programa ECOSALUD ETV Colombia, Centro de Estudios e Investigación en Salud (CEIS), Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá , Bogotá , Colombia.
authors.forename: Edith Natalia
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Gómez-Melendro
authors.affiliation: Red Chagas Colombia, Grupo Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Salud , Bogotá , Colombia.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Programa ECOSALUD ETV Colombia, Centro de Estudios e Investigación en Salud (CEIS), Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá , Bogotá , Colombia.
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Uribe
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia , Bogotá , Colombia.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brochero
keywords: Chagas disease; Triatomini; Wayúu ethnicity; vector indices