Ecogenetics of Triatoma sordida and Triatoma guasayana (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in the Bolivian Chaco

Flight and nutritional status of sylvatic Triatoma sordida and Triatoma guasayana

“…Although they are originally sylvatic species, they are frequently found in peridomestic habitats and have been reported from houses (Forattini 1980, Wisnivesky-Colli et al 1993, Gajate et al 1996, Noireau et al 1998b). Owing to this trend toward domesticity, they may be considered as candidates domiciliary vector for Chagas disease.…”

“…In the Bolivian Chaco, T. guasayana and two biological species pertaining to the T. sordida complex (named T. sordida groups 1 and 2) occur in sympatry (Noireau et al 1998b). Although T. sordida group 2 has not yet received formal recognition as a new species, it is considered in this report as a separate species.…”

Vectorial capacity of Triatoma guasayana (Wygodzinsky & Abalos) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) compared with two other species of epidemic importance

“…Triatoma sordida and T. guasayana are closely related species of Triatominae since they are morphologically similar and occupy the same ecotopes with an overlapping distribution in northern Argentina and part of the Bolivian Chaco and Paraguay (Schofield 1994,Usinger et al 1966. Although originally they were wild species, they were frequently found in peridomestic and domestic habitats (Forattini 1980, Wisnivesky-Colli et al 1993, Gajate et al 1996, Noireau et al 1998 due to their domestic tendency, and may be considered as possible domestic vectors of Chagas disease.…”

“…In the forest environment, T. sordida and T. guasayana were found in a variety of ecotopes: bird nests, tree holes, under bark, trees roots, palm trees, in groups of bromeliads and under rocks (Barretto 1971, Forattini et al 1971, Carcavallo & Martinez 1985, Diotaiuti et al 1993. In the Bolivian Chaco, these species were mainly collected from trees holes and bromeliads (Noireau et al 2000) and the adults have a high dispersal potential by flying at night during the hot, dry months (August-November) (Wisnivesky-Colli et al 1993, Noireau et al 1998. Studies on triatomine species have demonstrated that hunger is the main trigger for starting flight (Sjogren & Ryckman 1996, Ekkens 1981, Lehane & Schofield, 1982, McEwen & Lehane 1993 and, therefore, nutritional condition might indicate whether adults will fly or not.…”

Characterization of Triatoma guasayana biotopes in a hardwood forest of Santiago del Estero, Argentina

“…Triatoma guasayana Wygodzinsky & Abalos is a silvatic triatomine species (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) distributed in Central and Northern Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay (Lent & Wygodzinsky 1979, Noireau et al 1999). In the hardwood forest of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, T. guasayana has been found in dry cactacea, bromeliads, and logs, which are also used as temporary shelters by opossums (Didelphis albiventris), the main wild reservoir host of Trypanosoma cruzi (Schweigmann et al 1999).…”