Confirmation of the occurrence of Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus (Champion, 1899) in the state of Acre, Western Amazon

Abstract: INTRODUCTION This study aimed to confirm the occurrence of Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus in the state of Acre, Brazil. METHODS The four specimens of P. rufotuberculatus were obtained from the entomological collection of the Zoobotanical Park of the Federal University of Acre (UFAC). RESULTS Confirmation of the occurrence of this species in the state of Acre increases the number of species already registered, from nine to ten. CONCLUSIONS The necessity to develop further studies was verified, especially with the domiciliary process of P. rufotuberculatus, resulting in tracing prophylactic measures against the vector transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi.

First report of Panstrongylus lignarius (Walker, 1873) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in the State of Acre, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: This communication reports the first occurrence of Panstrongylus lignarius in the State of Acre, Brazil. METHODS: A specimen of P. lignarius was collected from a residence in a rural area of the municipality of Rio Branco, Acre, Western Amazon. RESULTS: This new report of P. lignarius extends the distribution of this species to eight Brazilian states, and also increases the number of species of Triatominae described from the state of Acre from nine to ten. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of P. lignarius deserves attention, since this species has the potential for domiciliation and transmitting Trypanosoma cruzi.

First report of panstrongylus lignarius, Walker, 1873 (hemiptera, reduviidae, triatominae), in the State of Rondônia, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: This study reports, for the first time, the presence of Panstrongylus lignarius in the State of Rondonia, Brazil. METHODS: Specimen of P. lignarius was collected from a flat in an urban area of the municipality of Porto Velho, Western Amazon. RESULTS: With this finding of P. lignarius, the number of Triatominae species in the State of Rondonia has increased from six to seven. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of P. lignarius is worrisome, because this species has been found to be naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and there has been evidence of its domiciliation capabilities in other countries of South America.

Morphometry and morphology of the antennae of Panstrongylus megistus Burmeister, Rhodnius neglectus Lent, Rhodnius prolixus Stal and Triatoma vitticeps Stal (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

The length of the four right antennal segments from nymphs and adults of Panstrongylus megistus Burmeister, Rhodnius neglectus Lent, Rhodnius prolixus Stal and Triatoma vitticeps Stal were measured. The length of the antennal segments of the adults of all four species, 4th and 5th instars of P. megistus, and 5th instar of R. neglectus and R. prolixus followed the same pattern: 2nd>3rd>4th>1st. The pattern of 1st and 2nd instars of P. megistus was: 4th>3rd>2nd>1st. For 3rd instars of P. megistus, 1st and 2nd instars of R. neglectus and R. prolixus they were: 3rd>4th>2nd>1st. Third and 4th instars of Rhodnius neglectus and R. prolixus had a pattern of: 3rd>2nd>4th>1st. Only T. vitticeps showed the same pattern (4th>3rd>2nd>1st) for all five instars. The morphological study of the second antennal segment by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) disclosed that the first instars of all four species exhibit type I bristles sensillae and one trichobothrium. Another type III bristle and basiconic, campaniform, coeloconic, trichoid sensillae and type I bristle and trichobothria were noted on their fourth instars and adults. Campaniform sensillae were noted only on T. vitticeps adults. Nodules were observed in the joint between 1st and 2nd antennal segments of adults of P. megistus and T. vitticeps, but not on R. neglectus and R. prolixus.

A new species of the genus Panstrongylus from French Guiana (Heteroptera; Reduviidae; Triatominae)

Panstrongylus mitarakaensis n. sp. is described from French Guiana. Morphological characters are provided. This small species, less robust than other Panstrongylus species, shows a pronotum shape similar to species of the "P. lignarius complex". However, others characters such as the postocular part of head, the obsolete tubercle on the anterior lobe of pronotum, and the lateral process on the antenniferous tubercle distinguish it from the species in that complex. The taxonomic key of the genus Panstrongylus is actualized.

Patterns of antenal sensilla of Panstrongylus megistus from three Brazilian states

The objective of the present study was to analyze and describe the phenotype of the antennal sensilla of Panstrongylus megistus, one of the epidemiologically most important species of triatomines in Brazil. Specimens from the Brazilian states of Goiás (GO), Minas Gerais (MG), and Rio Grande do Sul (RS) were compared, based on studies of four types of sensilla on three antennal segments: thick-walled trichoid (TK), thin-walled trichoid (TH), bristles (BR), and basiconica (BA). Discriminant analysis allowed the separation of the RS specimens from those of GO and MG. Multivariate discriminant analysis demonstrated that the sensilla of males differed from those of females, the variables with greatest weight being the BA of all three segments and the TK of flagellum 1. The basiconica sensilla were significantly more abundant in females, on all three segments. Antennal sensilla patterns also demonstrated significant differences among P. megistus specimens.

Occurrence and variability of Panstrongylus lutzi in the State of Ceará, Brazil

O Panstrongylus lutzi é um triatomíneo de ocorrência restrita às áreas de "caatinga" do Nordeste brasileiro. Apesar da presença de adultos no ambiente artificial ser freqüente, a ocorrência de colônias nunca havia sido assinalada pelas estatísticas do Programa de Controle da Doença de Chagas. No Estado do Ceará, a ocorrência desta espécie aumentou paulatinamente ao longo do período estudado, com taxas de infecção natural com Trypanosoma cruzi geralmente altas, sempre associadas a adultos que invadem o ambiente artificial. Chama a atenção o encontro de ninfas no peridomicílio e no intradomicílio. No ambiente silvestre duas fêmeas foram coletadas em troncos de árvores, que podem representar ecótopos naturais alternativos para a espécie neste Estado. As amostras de Panstrongylus lutzi dos municípios de Sobral e Crateús estudadas morfológica e morfometricamente, demonstraram alta variabilidade, sendo os insetos de Crateús significativamente menores e de coloração pálida, apresentando alguns indivíduos padrão da morfologia do falo compatível com a descrição da espécie; os insetos de Sobral eram escuros e as genitálias coincidentes com o padrão de Panstrongylus sherlocki, mas sendo todos considerados por nós como Panstrongylus lutzi.

Biomorphological alterations induced by an anti-juvenile hormonal compound, 2-(2-EthoxyEthoxy) Ethyl furfuryl ether, on three species of Triatominae larvae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)

Applied topically to larvae of Rhodnius prolixus Stal, Triatoma infestans (Klug) and Panstrongylus herreri Wygodzinsky, vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, a synthetic, furan-containing anti-juveline hormonal compound, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl furfuryl ether induced a variety of biomorphological alterations, including precocious metamorphosis into small adultoids with adult abdominal cuticle, ocelli, as well as rudimentary adultoid wings. Some adultoids died during ecdysis and were confined within the old cuticle. The extension of these biomorphological responses is discussed in terms of the complexity of the action of anti-juvenile hormonal compounds during the development of triatomines.

Alteraciones morfológicas en triatominos (hemiptera, reduviidae) del Perú / Morphological alterations in several species of triatominae (hemiptera, reduviidae). Peru

Los autores describen alteraciones morfológicas observadas en varias especies de triatominos procedentes del criadero de la Sección de Entomología del Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Daniel A. Carrión" y algunas colectadas en su ambiente natural; los fenómenos se observaron en ninfas y adultos, siendo los mas frecuentes: deformacion de patas, hemielitros o conexivo. Estas alteraciones disminuyeron la capacidad reproductiva y fueron causas de muerte prematura.

Evolución de Panstrongylus Chinai del Ponte, 1929 (hemiptera, reduviidae) en el laboratorio / Panstrongylus Chinai of Ponte evolution, 1929 (hemiptera, triatomidae) in the laboratory

Se estudia el ciclo de vida de Panstrongylus chinai en el laboratorio a temperatura de 24 grados C, humedad relativa de 70 por ciento, alimentados con sangre de pollo cada 8 días. El tiempo que transcurrió de adulto a adulto fue de 241 a 250 días y de huevo a adulto de 227 a 236 días; el promedio de huevos ovipositados por una hembra fue de 0.6 huevo/día totalizando a 95 puestos en períodos de 4 a 5 días consecutivos interrumpidos por 3 a 5 días de descanso en un lapso de 158 días