It has a wide range of ecotopes, mainly savanna and foothills with an altitude of between 500 and 1,500 metres (1,640 and 4,921 ft) above sea level and temperatures of 16 to 28 °C (61 to 82 °F).

Sylvatic R. prolixus, as virtually all Rhodnius spp., is primarily associated with palm tree habitats and has a wide range of hosts including birds, rodents, marsupials, sloths, and reptiles.

[2] Rhodnius prolixus established itself throughout Central America after specimens that originated in Venezuela accidentally escaped from a San Salvadoran research laboratory in 1915.

These lipocalins were demonstrated to serve various functions including sequestering amines – especially serotonin – to prevent vasoconstriction (and possibly coagulation) in the host by Andersen et al.

Infection with Chagas disease occurs after Rhodnius releases protozoans in its feces immediately following a blood meal.