Abstract

LIMA, Marli Maria; JURBERG, Pedro  and  ALMEIDA, Josimar Ribeiro de. Behavior of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) vectors of Chaga's disease: IV. Fecundity, fertility and longevity of Panstrongylus megistus (Burm., 1835) pairs and virgin females starved under laboratory conditions. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz [online]. 1987, vol.82, n.4, pp. 501-509. ISSN 0074-0276.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02761987000400007.

A laboratory study was conducted on the fecundity, fertility and life span of Panstrongylus megistus pairs and on the fecundity and life span of P. megistus virgin females submitted to starvation after the last moulting. Of the mated females, 22.2% laid eggs, 4.4% of which were fertile. Females resisted starvation more than males. Of the starved virgin females, only 10% laid eggs, with a low egg-laying rate (0.47) per female. Resistance to starvation was lower in virgin than in mated females.

Keywords : Chagas' disease; reproduction; fecundity; longevity; triatomines; pasntrongylus megistus.