Influence of mating and feeding on reproduction pattern of haematophagous bug Triatoma williami Galvão, Souza & Lima, 1965 (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific entomology 2018, 21(4), , pp.1389-1392
• Main Authors: Câmara, Thaís Peres, Gomes, Letícia Pinho, Lunardi, Rosaline Rocha, de Souza Souto, Paula Cristina, Degrossoli, Adriana, Arrais-Silva, Wagner Welber
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chagas disease; Fertility; Mating behavior; Nourishment status; Vector biology; 농수해양학
• ISSN: 1226-8615; 1876-7990
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2018.10.010

The bloodsucking bug Triatoma williami is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease in State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. It occurs in sylvatic areas of Brazilian savanna with often records of adult specimens in domestic and peridomestic habitats. We describe, for the first time, the reproductive parameters of T. williami females such as fecundity, fertility and lifespan. We also evaluate whether mating and nourishment status of females of T. williami may modulate the reproductive parameters. As a result, the presence of male corroborated to increase female lifespan from 5.14±1,77 to 34.57±10,86 weeks. The oviposition rate in mated female increased 275% when we compared to the fecundity values in unmated females. Finally, our results indicate that mating is crucial to improve lifespan and fecundity of T. williami females. This characteristic may be related to the environmental conditions under T. williami develops, because the sylvatic ecotopes form small scattered colonies with infrequent access to blood sources. [Display omitted] •The reproductive parameters of Triatoma williami females such as fecundity, fertility and lifespan were investigated.•The presence of male corroborated to increase female lifespan in 600%.•The oviposition rate in mated female increased 275%.•The mating is crucial to improve lifespan and fecundity of Triatoma williami females.