Palm Tree (IMAGE) Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Caption Palm trees harbor the triatomine bugs that cause Chagas disease and should be the focus of disease surveillance efforts in the Amazon. Credit STRI Usage Restrictions Credit: STRI License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.