Fauna of Atacama: English
www.geovirtual2.clMuseo Virtual, Atacama
W. Griem, 2005 - 2021
Vinchuca or Winchuka of the Atacama desert, Chile.
Large Photo
Foto W. Griem 1990
Winchuka near the Quebrada Chañaral Alto, Atacama region, Chile.
W. Griem, 1990)
en grande
Photo: Red Vinchuca in the Chañaral Alto Gorge /
El Chinche; 1990. (Foto W.Griem 1990; Dig.2005)
Large Photo
Vinchuca of the Atacama desert, near
Inca
de Oro -
Foto: W. Griem / 2012:
Ca50D
6653 -
Large Photo
Animals of Atacama: Winchuka or Vinchuca
Winchuka or Vinchuca (Triatoma):
Vinchucas belong to the group of bed bugs (hemiptera) and can be found
(unfortunately) very frequently in the Atacama desert. They have sizes
from 3 mm to 1.5 cm. They are usually brown/grey, some have red
markings.
Vinchuca can transmit Chagas disease. That's why you have to protect
yourself well in the desert, especially where there is a high population
and a high number of infected individuals. Always leave the tent tightly
closed, observe the ground towards the direction from where the wind
blows. Vinchuca is generally found in the Atacama region of the Atacama
region in the sector
Inca de Oro,
Quebrada Chañaral Alto, but also in other places.
Interesting is the description of
R. A. Philippi during his trip to Atacama:
"Strange is that here in Atacama (today: San Pedro de Atacama) there
are no mosquitoes, fleas or cockroaches, but that's why vinchucas often
appear. Brown cockroaches with wings, which reach as an adult a length
of 11 lines and annoy those who sleep at night. In one morning we killed
42 animals, including the little ones, in my bed. I never felt the
itches, but my companion,
Mr. Döll, had great discomfort and suffered a lot, the swelling
remained for several days." (Philippi, 1856)
Obviously at this time they did not know the danger of infection from
Chagas disease.
Informative Chart:
Systematic:
Arthrópoda / Insecta / Hemiptera / Reduviidae / Triatoma
Habitat: Plenum
Desert, near mining districts
PHILIPPI,
Rodulfo Amando (1856): Die sogenannte Wüste Atacama. - Mittheilungen aus
Justus Pertes geographischer Anstalt; Petermann; Justus Pertes; Gotha.
Wikipedia y Chagas:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfermedad_de_Chagas
Wikipedia y Vinchuca:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinchuca
Animals
of Atacama
Places of interest
Information Atacama
Animals of Atacama
Anémona del mar
Chiton or Polyplacophora
Loco (Concholepas concholepas)
Sol del
Mar
►
Vinchuca, Winchuka (Triatoma)
Alacrán
Palito,
Palote
Mariposa nocturna
Mantodea, mantis Religiosa
Saltamontes (Caelifera)
Cangrejo
Long-tailed snake
Lagartija
Iguana Chilena
Flamenco
Pelícano
Lleuca o Lloica
Tenca
Cometocino
Hummingbird, Colibri
Aguilucho
Jote de Cabeza Colorada
Garza boyera
Cormorán negro o Yeco
Vicuna
Guanaco
Zorro (1) (2)
Vizcacha
Rata Chinchilla (Abrocoma)
Atacama landscape
The Atacama desert
Snow in the Atacama desert
Flowering desert
Beaches of Atacama
Las Dunas
de Atacama
Desert & Atacama
Journey to Atacama
Rutas en Atacama
Pan Americana
Distances within Atacama
Road maps of Atacama
Atacama Litarature & Books
Links, enlaces Atacama
Imágenes 3-dimensionales
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