Wild Habitat and Related Fauna of <I>Panstrongylus lutzi</I> (Reduviidae, Triatominae)

Abstract

Although Panstrongylus lutzi (Neiva and Pinto) is currently the fifth most frequent species of Triatominae captured in artificial structures in Brazil, its silvatic habitat remains unknown. A survey of its natural ecotopes was performed in an area of Bahia State. P. lutzi nymphal instars and adults were detected in burrows of Dasypodidae. Silvatic habitat of four other endemic triatomine species of the caatinga (Triatoma pseudomaculata Correa and Espinola, Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva, Rhodnius neglectus Lent, and Psammolestes tertius Lent and Jurberg) was also recorded.

Some considerations about the ecology of Triatominae

“…In the framework of its survival strategy, this vector does not exhibit a restricted association with one (or some) tree species. But it is also found in nests of Furnariidae (Pseudoseisura cristata) and, more occasionally in burrows of Dasypodidae (Dias-Lima et al 2003). In our study area in Bahia State, more than 50% of dissected trees were positive for T. pseudomaculata.…”

“…Some important questions remain about the understanding of domestic ecology of triatomines. So, T. brasiliensis and T. pseudomaculata are closely restricted to different ecotopes in wild environment (rock-piles and arboreal habitat, respectively; Dias-Lima et al 2003). On the other hand, synanthropic populations of the same species give up this specificity.…”

Characteristics of Triatomine infestation and natural Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

“…T. pseudomaculata is primarily associated with Caatinga and areas of the Cerrado in Brazil (58) , and is an arboricolous species (59) . Here, the natural habitat of T. pseudomaculata was identifi ed as bird's nests, corroborating previous fi ndings (32) .…”

“…Its domiciliation has occurred in the States of Ceará and Pernambuco (62) (63) . P. lutzi is found in hollow Auxemma oncocalyx trunks in Ceará (64) and in armadillo burrows in the semiarid Caatinga in Bahia (59) . However, the P. lutzi natural habitat was not identifi ed despite extensive searching in the wild environment of the Seridó Ecological Station where most specimens were captured; thus, further studies are required (15) (51) .…”

Estudo das fontes alimentares de Panstrongylus lutzi (Neiva & Pinto, 1923) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) no Estado do Ceará

“…O objetivo do presente trabalho foi identificar as fontes alimentares de espécimes de P. lutzi coletados em diversos municípios do Estado do Ceará. 6 que incriminaram tatus como hospedeiros de P. lutzi, ao encontrarem ninfas dessa espécie em tocas de Dasypodidae, pouco se sabe sobre os habitats e hospedeiros naturais dessa espécie. Os resultados obtidos no presente trabalho mostraram que P. lutzi é uma espécie eclética quanto à fonte de alimentação, pois, dentre os espécimes examinados foram observadas alimentações em 8 diferentes fontes.…”