Performance of yeast-baited traps with Triatoma sordida, Triatoma brasiliensis, Triatoma pseudomaculata, and Panstrongylus megistus in laboratory assays

PIRES, HERTON H. R.; LAZZARI, C. R.; DIOTAIUTI, LILÉIA; LORENZO, MARCELO G

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública

Organización Panamericana de la Salud

Año: 2000 vol. 7 p. 384 - 388

1680-5348

The effectiveness of a trap for triatomines baited with yeast cultures has been previouslydemonstrated for Triatoma infestans in laboratory assays. We report here results from laboratoryassays testing yeast traps for Triatoma sordida, Triatoma brasiliensis, Triatomapseudomaculata, and Panstrongylus megistus. All assays were conducted in an open experimentalarena 100 cm 100 cm, with two traps placed at opposite sides of the arena. Oneof the traps contained a yeast culture, and the other trap contained a saccharose solution as acontrol. Two series of experiments were done, one without a refuge for the insects and one witha refuge. The results obtained clearly demonstrated that the yeast-baited traps were effective inthe laboratory in capturing both T. sordida and P. megistus. For T. sordida, yeast-baitedtraps captured significantly more bugs than did the control traps (t test P value = 0.03). ForP. megistus, when a refuge was provided during the assay, yeast-baited traps also capturedsignificantly more bugs than did the control traps (t test P value = 0.006). In the experimentswith T. brasiliensis and T. pseudomaculata, both traps captured some insects, but the yeasttraps captured many fewer bugs than was true with the T. sordida and P. megistus bugs.These results indicate that, in the laboratory, yeast traps can capture considerable numbers ofT. sordida and P. megistus in one night. We discuss the potential use of yeast traps for detectingand capturing both triatomine species.