Flight initiation of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under natural climatic conditions

GUREVITZ JM; CEBALLOS LA; KITRON U; GURTLER RE

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY

Año: 2006 vol. 43 p. 143 - 150

0022-2585

Flight dispersal of Triatoma infestans Klug is probably the most important mechanismfor house reinfestation at a village scale after residual spraying with insecticides. The aim of the currentstudy was to estimate the ßight initiation probability of Þeld-collected T. infestans and to assess howthis probability was affected by sex, adult age, partial bloodmeal, and the presence of a host inaccessiblefor feeding. Four experimental series, each consisting of three to six consecutive nights and repeatedmeasurements of ßight initiation on each individually marked bug, were carried out in experimentalhuts inside closed cages under natural climatic conditions. We demonstrate that ßight initiationprobability of T. infestans is much higher than previously reported, responds to temperature in asigmoid manner, and is higher in females than males, and that the frequency distribution of the numberof ßights per individual is highly aggregated in female and male bugs. The age of adults had strongeffects on ßight initiation, whereas the presence of an inaccessible host and a partial bloodmeal exertedno signiÞcant effects in models controlling for the effects of bug weight-to-length ratio. The high ßightpotential found is consistent with the rapid changes in reinfestation patterns observed in the Þeld. Thepresent estimates of ßight probabilities and the identiÞcation of factors modifying them provideessential knowledge for modeling reinfestation patterns and for improving control strategies of T.infestans.