Triatoma infestans melanosoma Martínez, Olmedo & Carcavallo, 1987 Triatoma infestans, commonly called winchuka[1] or vinchuca[2] in Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Chile, barbeiro in Brazil, chipo in Venezuela and also known as "kissing bug" or "barber bug" in English, is a blood-sucking bug (like virtually all the members of its subfamily Triatominae) and the most important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi which can lead to Chagas disease.

[ZR 1] This region has joined the control intervention called Southern Cone Initiative managed by the PAHO.

During the Beagle survey voyage, Charles Darwin noted in his journal for 26 March 1835 having "experienced an attack, & it deserves no less a name, of the Benchuca, the great black bug of the Pampas.

It is most disgusting to feel soft wingless insects, about an inch long, crawling over ones body; before sucking they are quite thin, but afterwards round & bloated with blood, & in this state they are easily squashed."

There is no direct transmission by feeding, instead deposition of parasites is associated with a bloodmeal but occurs solely by defecation.