AGGREGATION PHEROMONE IN FIVE SPECIES OF TRIATOMINAE (HEMIPTERA: REDUVIiDAE)

Abstract

An aggregation pheromone found in the faeces of 5th instar nymphs and adults o/Triatoma mazzottii Usinger, Triatoma longipennis Usingerr Triatoma pallidipennis (Stal), Triatoma barberi Usinger and Rhodnius prolixus (Stal) was studied under laboratory conditions, Bioassays were performed using a 30 cm-diameter arena and a wind tunnel. T. longipennis nymphs showed a stronger response than the other triatomine nymphs tested. There were no significant differences in faecal attractiveness to nymphs, but the faeces o/T. longipennis and T. pallidipennis were most active. The responses of all species to male and female faeces of T. mazzottii was significantly different but there was no significant difference in the responses of the development stages to male and female faeces of T. mazzottii. However, male faeces were more active than female faeces. The feeding status of nymphs did not affect the response.