BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF TRIATOMA RUBROFASCIATA AND ITS NATURAL ENEMIES IN SIMULATED INFESTATION SITES

Abstract

The behaviour and ecology of Triatoma rubrofasciata and its natural enemies were investigated using various models of simulated infestation sites. The ant Pheidole megacphala and an egg-parasitoid Gryon n. sp. were found to be important population regulator of the Triatoma under laboratory conditions. The behaviour of these natural enemies were co-related to the oviposition behaviour of T. rubrofasciata. Although a high proportion of Triatoma eggs were concealed inside crevices, the ants removed them effectively at ground level. Search activity of the ants was less intense on vertical structures, but Gryon complimented the destruction of Triatoma eggs by searching particularly for host-eggs hidden in crevices, regardless of height. A delibarate tendency of Tritoma to oviposit on collapsed spider web did not contribute to egg survival against predation and parasitism significantly.