Biology of Triatoma flavida Neiva, 1911 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under laboratory conditions

ABSTRACT

The complete life cycle of Triatoma flavida, weekly fed on hens, was studied at 28Ý2ÝC and 80Ý10 percent RH. Aspects related to hatching, life span, mortality and feeding behavior for each stage of its life cycle were evaluated. The hatching rate observed for 100 eggs was 93 percent with an average incubation period of 27.2 days. Sixty-two nymphs completed the cycle and the mean egg to adult development time was 230.4 days. Mean duration of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th instar nymphs was 22.1, 25.3, 36.7, 49.7 and 69.4 days, respectively. The number of blood meals on each nymphal stage varied from 1 to 7. The mortality rate was 6.5 percent for NI, 23 percent for NIII and 7.5 percent for NV nymphs. Mean number of laid eggs per female was 283.1. Adult survival rates were 344.8 Ý 256.4 days for males and 285.3 Ý 201.8 days for females