The energy budget of Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under laboratory conditions

COLLIER, B., J. E. RABINOVICH AND C. BOSQUE

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC AMER

Lugar: Lanham; Año: 1981 p. 257 - 265

0022-2585

An energy budget was constructed for Rhodnius prolixus feeding on laboratory mice. The amount of blood ingested, assimilation efficiency, and the apportionment of energy into growth and metabolism were estimated for each instar. A total intake of 1915 joules was required by the 5 instars. Of this, 27.2% was used in growth, 38.4% in metabolism, 31.1 % lost in feces and 3.3% lost in exuviae. The greatest expenditures for metabolism occurred in instars I, IV and V, with a pronounced reduction in instars II and III; these middle instars concomitantly showed the greatest growth. By combining data from the literature on egg production with our estimates of energy contents, the efficiency of producing eggs from energy input was estimated to be 35%. It is estimated on the basis of energy budget considerations that for enough energy to be available to begin producing eggs, females must feed once every 12-13 days. Finally, the energy budget of Rhodnius prolixus is compared with that of the much larger Triatoma phyllosoma