First records of Triatoma sanguisuga (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and detection of Trypanosoma cruzi (Trypanosomatida:Trypanosomatidae) in southern New Jersey, United States

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Triatoma sanguisuga (LeConte, 1855) is the most widely distributed triatomine bug species in the United States (US), but its occurrence and association with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) are poorly characterized near the northeastern margin of its reported range. We combined homeowner-submitted specimens, community-science records, targeted habitat surveys, opportunistic light-trap collections, molecular identification, and pathogen screening to characterize T. sanguisuga and Trypanosoma cruzi in New Jersey. Archived mammal blood samples from central New Jersey were also screened for Trypanosoma cruzi . Triatoma sanguisuga was documented at multiple locations in southern New Jersey, including nymphs collected from standing dead trees and stumps and adults attracted to light traps. Mitochondrial cox1 sequences from New Jersey specimens clustered with sequences from T. sanguisuga collected in Delaware and suggest geographic structure among US populations. Trypanosoma cruzi DNA was detected in adult but not nymphal triatomines from southern New Jersey; parasite DNA was not detected in archived mammal samples from central New Jersey. These findings provide the first verified field collections of T. sanguisuga in New Jersey and the first detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in triatomines from the state. Although the opportunistic sampling design does not permit estimates of statewide distribution, abundance, or infection prevalence, the findings establish an initial baseline for investigating triatomine distribution, parasite occurrence, and population structure at the northeastern extent of the species range.