Title: Longevity, Fecundity, and Food Intake of Adult Triatoma Sanguisuga (Leconte) (Hemiptera: Triatominae)1
Abstract:Adult Triatoma sanguisuga (Leconte) were collected in the field as fifth instar nymphs and allowed to emerge in the laboratory at 25°C and 45–50% relative humidity. Females averaged 711 eggs (312–1166...Adult Triatoma sanguisuga (Leconte) were collected in the field as fifth instar nymphs and allowed to emerge in the laboratory at 25°C and 45–50% relative humidity. Females averaged 711 eggs (312–1166 eggs each), 54–89% of which hatched under laboratory conditions. Hatchability decreased late in life of females. The females lived 251–609 days (mean 456 days) and took 2191–8349mg of blood, whereas males lived 345–679 days (mean 526 days) and took only 1880–4721 mg of blood. Food intake of females showed a cyclic pattern that correlated with the cyclic deposition of eggs, in which females exhibited two or three laying cycles. Adults were reared from eggs with difficulty; females produced only 1–183 eggs, but there was little difference in hatchability. The mean adult life of the laboratory-reared insects was less than half that of the field-collected individuals.Read More