BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF TRIATOMA RUBROFASCIATA AND ITS NATURAL ENEMIES IN SIMULATED INFESTATION SITES
JOSEPH KOH KOK HONG
JOSEPH KOH KOK HONG
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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.
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Date
1972
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