Changes in the Sexual Dimorphism of Triatominae in the Transition from Natural to Artificial Habitats

A shift from large to small average sizes was observed in Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius domesticus between field and domestic (or laboratory) conditions of life. It was more pronounced in the female specimens, leading to a subsequent reduction of sexual size dimorphism. This feature is discussed i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 1999-07, Vol.94 (4), p.565-569
Main Authors: Dujardin, J, Steinden, M, Chavez, T, Machane, M, Schofield, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
domestic
Environment
Female
Insect Vectors - genetics
laboratory
Male
Multivariate Analysis
PARASITOLOGY
Reduviidae
Rhodnius domesticus
Sex Characteristics
sexual size dimorphism
silvatic
Triatoma infestans
Triatominae
Triatominae - anatomy & histology
Triatominae - sexual size dimorphism - silvatic - domestic - laboratory
TROPICAL MEDICINE
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Summary:A shift from large to small average sizes was observed in Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius domesticus between field and domestic (or laboratory) conditions of life. It was more pronounced in the female specimens, leading to a subsequent reduction of sexual size dimorphism. This feature is discussed in terms of genetic and populational changes occurring from natural to artificial habitats, in particular those related to population densities. Sexual size dimorphism is then recommended as a new character to be used in the study of species of Triatominae adapting to domestic ecotopes.
ISSN:1678-8060
0074-0276
0074-0276
1678-8060
DOI:10.1590/S0074-02761999000400024