Demographic fitness of Belminus ferroae (Hemiptera: Triatominae) on three different hosts under laboratory conditions

Abstract

Triatominae are widely recognised for their role as vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi. One of the main biological characteristics of this subfamily is their obligate haematophagous condition. However, previous studies on Belminus herreri and Belminus ferroae suggested that cockroaches are their principal hosts in domiciles. Due to this peculiar behaviour, the aim of this study was to analyse several demographic and reproductive parameters of B. ferroae fed on three different hosts (mice, cockroaches and Rhodnius prolixus) and relate B. ferroae fitness to these alternative hosts. The cohorts were reared under constant conditions. The egg hatching rate was similar for cohorts fed on cockroaches (69.4%) and R. prolixus (63.8%), but was much lower for the cohort fed on mice (16%). The development time from the nymph to adult stage and the average age of first reproduction (α) presented lower values in the cohort fed on cockroaches, which is consistent with the higher population growth rate associated with this host. Demographic parameters [intrinsic rate of natural increase, finite rate of population growth, net reproductive rate and damping ratio] showed statistically significant differences between the cohorts. Analysis of the life history of B. ferroae revealed a higher fitness related to the cockroach. The implications of these results for the origin of the subfamily are discussed.

Ethological description of a fixed action pattern in a kissing bug (Triatominae): vision, gustation, proboscis extension and drinking of water and guava

“…While the survival value of many such sucking behaviors is unknown, their occurrence casts doubts about bloodsucking as a diagnostic taxonomic feature, and as a phylogenetic character, for the Triatominae subfamily. However, there is no doubt that the principal sources of food are hemolymph for Belminus species (Sandoval et al 2013), and blood for the rest of triatomine species.…”

Triatomines intrahaemocoelic inoculation protocol: a useful tool to check infectivity in insects

“…Triatomine manipulation (Movie S1, 1'02" to 1'26") 1. Vectors manipulation frequently requires that the insect be anesthetized [23] (Fig.…”

“…Triatomines are hemipterous insects with 143 species already reported [1] and known by different common names in diverse American countries ("vinchucas" in Argentina, "pito" in Colombia, "barbeiros" in Brazil, "kissing-bugs" in the United States, "chinches" in Mexico, "chipos" in Venezuela, "chirimachas" in Peru, etc.). Many species, throughout America, are well recognized as vectors of Chagas disease, an endemic zoonotic disease affecting almost 7-8 million people [2].…”

Evolution of hematophagous habit in Triatominae (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

“…No native or endemic species have been found on the African continent. With the exception of some species of the Belminus genus, all the members of Triatominae are bloodsuckers that live in association with vertebrated hosts, either in sylvan habitats like palm trees, bird nests, rodent burrows, or caves or in domestic and peridomicile dwellings (Lent and Wygodzinsky 1979;Sandoval et al 2013). Some species live in a variety of ecotopes and feed on different hosts (Carcavallo et al 1998), while others are more specialized, as occurs with the Psammolestes genus whose members are linked to birds of the Furnariidae family or the Triatoma delpontei (Romana & Abalos) which is associated with the psittacine parrots Myiopsitta monachus (Boddaert) (Salvatella et al 1993).…”

“…Furthermore, Lorosa et al (2000) were successful in feeding all the nymph stages of Triatoma circummaculata (Stål) and Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard) with only Blattidae hemolymph under similar conditions; nonetheless, these authors apparently were unable to complete the life cycle of these species due to their needing vertebrate blood to produce a second generation. Pontes et al (2011) found that Triatoma pseudomaculata (Corrêa & Espinola) can feed on arthropods, specifically on Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus), and more recently, Sandoval et al (2013) carried out, for the first time successfully in Triatominae, the complete life cycle of B. ferroae at the expense of hemolymph of Blaberus sp.…”