Key features of non-kissing bugs.

<p>Key morphologic features distinguish similar-looking insects: (A) Gray color and dorsal crest of wheel bugs (<i>Arilus cristatus</i>) (B) Wide, flattened back legs of leaf-footed bugs (<i>Leptoglossus sp</i>.) (C) Short head of squash bugs (<i>Mozena sp</i>.) (D) Close view of mouthparts of a kissing bug (left; thin and straight) and non-kissing bug (right; thick and curved); Photos courtesy of M. Merchant (A), P. Porter (B, C), and R. Bardin (D).</p

Email activity.

<p>Number of daily emails to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a> from the public, 2014. Peaks generally correspond with a media event featuring Chagas disease and/or kissing bugs: A) July 17/18, Amarillo, Texas newscast and National Public Radio website article; B) July 24, articles about Chagas disease in Virginia; C) July 27, USA Today online article; D) August 2, Arkansas newscast; E) August 11, Cat Channel online article; F) August 18, Lubbock, Texas newscast. The regular pattern of decreasing and increasing activity (most noticeable throughout September) corresponds with weekends and weekdays, respectively.</p

Kissing bug collection phenology.

<p>Seasonal occurrence of the collection of kissing bugs by citizens, 2013–2014.</p

Historical and current collections from across Texas.

<p>A) States from which our program received kissing bugs in 2013–2014 overlaid on historical state-level records of kissing bugs throughout the U.S. [<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004235#pntd.0004235.ref005" target="_blank">5</a>,<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004235#pntd.0004235.ref029" target="_blank">29</a>]; B) Historical county-level records of kissing bugs in Texas (1928–2006, as from [<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004235#pntd.0004235.ref011" target="_blank">11</a>]) and submissions of kissing bugs through our citizen science program (2013–2014).</p

Three species of kissing bugs commonly found in Texas.

<p>(Left to right) <i>Triatoma protracta</i>, the most common species in the western U.S.; <i>Triatoma gerstaeckeri</i>, the most common species in Texas; <i>Triatoma sanguisuga</i>, the most common species in the eastern U.S. Scale bar represents 25mm or approximately 1 inch.</p

Triatomine species, proportion encountered inside homes, and <i>T</i>. <i>cruzi</i> infection prevalence in bugs submitted to the Texas Citizen Science kissing bug program, 2013–2014.

<p>^aSpecimens could not be identified to species due to poor quality (smashed bug; missing key morphologic features).</p><p>^bNymphs were not identified to species.</p><p>Triatomine species, proportion encountered inside homes, and <i>T</i>. <i>cruzi</i> infection prevalence in bugs submitted to the Texas Citizen Science kissing bug program, 2013–2014.</p

Mean (±SE) isotopic ratio (δ) of mosquitoes obtained from habitats enriched using ¹⁵N-labelled potassium nitrate and ¹³C-labelled glucose.

<p>All values referenced against international standards (nitrogen = air; carbon = Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB)). Data grouped by species and sex for adult mosquitoes and combined pupae.</p

Results showing δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C mean (±SE) of adult male and female pooled mosquitoes regardless of species from habitats enriched using ¹⁵N-labelled potassium nitrate, ¹³C-labelled carbon and un-enriched habitats (controls).

<p>Results showing δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C mean (±SE) of adult male and female pooled mosquitoes regardless of species from habitats enriched using ¹⁵N-labelled potassium nitrate, ¹³C-labelled carbon and un-enriched habitats (controls).</p

Illustration of how the mean isotopic ratios of δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C change when different quantities of mosquitoes from enriched versus control basins are included in the pools for analysis.

<p>Mean (CI: 95%) δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C for mosquitoes obtained from basins that were either enriched using the stable isotopes (enriched mosquitoes) or control basins that were not enriched (unenriched mosquitoes). We analysed adult mosquitoes in pools containing a total of four mosquitoes, but variable ratios of enriched to unenriched mosquitoes as indicated by the x-axis label (i.e. 0/4, 1/4, 2/4, ¾ or 4/4). Panel A represents females for <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> sensu lato, while panel B represents males of the same species. All values referenced against international standards (nitrogen = air; carbon = Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB)).</p

Comparison of isotopic ratios between mosquitoes obtained from enriched pools, and those obtained from control basins: Standardized isotopic ratios δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C for adult male and female <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> sensu lato and <i>Aedes aegypti</i>, and the pupae collected from control and enriched basins.

<p>Figure panels A, C and E represent results for mosquitoes collected from basins enriched with ¹⁵N-labelled potassium nitrate, and the respective controls, while figure panels B, D and F represent results of mosquitoes collected from basins enriched with ¹³C-labelled glucose, and the respective controls. All values referenced against international standards (nitrogen = air; carbon = Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB).</p