Spontaneous colonies of Panstrongylus megistus developed in experimental fowlhouses showed annual variation with more intensive adult production in the second half-year. This pattern may be attributed to the start of the rainy season. By individual tagging a general aspect obtained was that fifth nymphs were more permanent and some adult females showed a permanence of several months. Besides this, the triatomid showed a dispersal capacity, reaching other fowlhouses and reappering after absence of two to eight months. These findings show a considerable ecological valence of this population and a trend towards invasion of artificial ecotopes that reveal microclimatical conditions similar to the normal ones.
Trypanosomiasis, South American; Panstrongylus megistus; Triatomids bugs; Triatomids bugs; Ecology
