Alternative methods for the feeding of triatomines under laboratory conditions.

In order to improve the rearing and maintenance of triatomines under laboratory conditions, two feeding systems were made, one with a natural source in which a pigeon kept alive after several blood meals in triatomines was used and another artificial system using defibrinated sheep blood. Besides these equipments being made of easily available materials and low cost, they have shown to be useful and efficient, with favourable conditions for the feeding of triatomines.