Tempo de alimentação e defecação das ninfas de Triatoma melanosoma Martínez, Olmedo & Carcavallo (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) em diferentes condições de temperatura e umidade

The authors observed the feeding and defecation times of the nymphs of T. melanosoma Martínez, Olmedo & Carcavallo, 1987. Two groups were studied, one maintained under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity, and the other under ambient conditions. There was no significant difference in the number of bloodmeals accomplished by the nymphs of the two groups. Until the fourth instar the nymphs needed less than two bloodmeals to reach the subsequent instar, and only in the fifth instar did they require more than three bloodmeals to reach adulthood. This species demonstrated great avidit...