Geographic variation on biological parameters ofMeccus picturatus(Usinger), 1939 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Abstract

The biological parameters related to the life cycles of three populations of Meccus picturatus (Usinger) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae), were evaluated. A cohort of each of three populations from geographically isolated localities in western Mexico was maintained under similar laboratory conditions, after which all three populations were compared to each other. In each cohort, 50.9 to 72.1% of nymphs completed the cycle. The average time from N1 to adult was approximately 175 days and different for the three studied cohorts. The number of blood meals between molts varied from one to three. The hatching rates as well as the fecundity per female per day were different among the three studied populations. Our results show that the three isolated populations are statistically different in some parameters from each other, which points to the importance of studying the biological characteristics of local populations of triatomines for estimating their capacity of transmitting T. cruzi to reservoir hosts. Journal of Vector Ecology 40 (1): 66-70. 2015.

Biological parameters of interbreeding subspecies ofMeccus phyllosomus(Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in western Mexico

“…This is likely due to the intrinsic variation as different groups. Evidence from our study, in conjunction with those from previous field studies, indicates that an incipient process of speciation is occurring among these three subspecies, with previously reported important differences in their capacity as vectors of T. cruzi to humans in Mexico (Martínez-Ibarra et al , 2012, 2013, 2015 a ).…”

“…When initially collected, founders of each colony were identified following the Lent & Wygodzinsky (1979) keys, the revalidation of Meccus also was taken into account (Carcavallo et al ., 2000; Bargues et al ., 2014) and the specimens corresponded to the typical morphological characteristics of each species. Colonies were maintained at 27 ± 1°C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) and under a 12/12 h (light/dark) regimen, similar to the laboratory conditions used in previously published studies that investigated the biology of the three subspecies (referred to as M. pallidipennis, M. longipennis, and M. picturatus ) (Martínez-Ibarra et al ., 2012, 2013, 2015 a ). Specimens were fed on immobilized and anesthetized (using 0.25 ml kg −1 of ketamine that was injected intramuscularly) New Zealand rabbits for a 1-h period on a fortnightly basis.…”

“…For many years, arguments about the differences between Meccus phyllosomus pallidipennis, Meccus phyllosomus longipennis , and Meccus phyllosomus picturatus have continued. These three groups are important vectors of T. cruzi in Mexico, however they have shown important differences among them in studied biological parameters related to percentage of egg eclosion, fecundity, egg-to-adult development time, feeding, and defecation patterns (Martínez-Ibarra et al , 2012, 2013, 2015 d ). Those differences lead to important differences in their capacity as vectors of T. cruzi to human beings and, as a consequence, on their epidemiological importance in Mexico.…”

Biological aspects of crosses between populations of Triatoma mexicana (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

“…Even though they are geographically close (no more than 35 km away), Tierra Blanca and Peñamiller are isolated from each other by the Sierra Gorda mountain range, which apparently prevents any contact between the two populations. A similar conclusion was reached when noticeable differences in biological parameters were recorded among three populations of T. picturata that were geographically close (≈80 km away) but isolated by mountains (Martínez-Ibarra et al 2015).…”

Infection with Trypanosoma Cruzi Chagas and Characterization of Human Habitats of Triatoma Picturata (Usinger) in Western Mexico

“…In Jalisco and Nayarit, two of the states with a high prevalence of T. cruzi infection (12.11% and 12.19%, respectively) (Carabarin-Lima et al 2013), T. picturata (Usinger) is frequently collected, and this species is considered an important transmitter of T. cruzi (Martínez-Ibarra et al 2001, 2008). This species is usually found in sylvatic foci, in chicken coops, as well as in houses within villages in western Mexico, with infection rates for T. cruzi of 21.7 to 27.4% in domestic areas (Magallón-Gastélum et al 2001, Martínez-Ibarra et al 2001, 2008, 2015). In diverse localities in western Mexico, from 7.4% to 9.8% of houses searched for triatomines were positive for T. picturata .…”