The role of water vapour in the orientation behaviour of the blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)

BARROZO, RB; MANRIQUE, GABRIEL; LAZZARI, CR

JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY

Elsevier

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2003 vol. 49 p. 315 - 321

0022-1910

The behavioural response to water vapour was analysed for the haematophagous bug Triatoma infestans. Dry or humid discrete sources at different temperatures were used as stimuli for insects walking on a locomotion compensator. Our results established that humidity significantly increases the tendency of these bugs to orientate towards thermal sources. Furthermore, humid sources at room temperature revealed to be attractive for T. infestans, but limited to short-range distances. On the other hand, dynamic sources, i.e., airstreams carrying different water vapour contents did not affect the spontaneous anemotactic behaviour of this species, neither in sign (positive) nor in intensity. The anemotactic behaviour was also not influenced by the physiological water balance state of the bugs. Results are discussed in relation to the cues released by living hosts of triatomine bugs and in relation to their responses to air-currents.