Potential dispersion of some species of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) by migratory birds

Abstract

Some species of Triatominae secrete adhesive substances in their oviposition and are found associated with birds, which could favor the expansion of their distributions. A detailed bibliographical survey and our observations of the colonies of triatomines in our laboratory verified that some species possess adhesive substances and have connections with migratory birds. All the species (Rhodnius neglectus, R. pictipes, R. robustus, R. prolixus, R. pallescens and Psammolestes tertius presented such characteristics). Additionally, the literature demonstrates that certain other species of Rhodnius, as well as some in the genus Cavernicola, Microtriatoma and Triatoma also deposited adhesive eggs. In the genus Triatoma such characteristics were found in the species T. delpontei, T. protacta, T. platensis and T. lecticularia. Data on the geographical distributions of these Triatominae were correlated with those of some migratory birds, a close relationship between these areas was found. It is proposed that knowledge of this mechanism of passive dispersion is important for the programs of entomological monitoring of Chagas disease in Brazil.