Feeding pattems of R. neglectus collected in palm trees around Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil) were investigated. Precipitin tests showed 77.2% of avian blood. In view of these results, a new colony of R. neglectus established in the laboratory was fed regularly on pigeons or mice, in order to verify a possible better adaptation of this insect to the avian blood. As a control group a colony of R neglectus which has been maintained for several years in the laboratory was also observed. The results show a better development of the “new" colony in comparison with the old one, and of those bugs nourished with mice blood. Such findings suggest a poorer biological potential for triatomines maintained for long time in artificial conditions, in comparison with those living in the natural environment. As birds are the main vertebrate inhabitants of palm trees (the natural ecotope of R neglectus), the apparent feeding preference of this species for avian blood seems to be merely circumstancial and not related to a better biological performance provided by this kind of blood.
Triatominae; Rhodnius neglectus; Evolutive cycle; Feeding preference