Vital statistics of Panstronglus geniculatus (Latreille 1811) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under experimental conditions.
A statistical evaluation of the population dynamics of Panstrongylus geniculatus is based on a cohort experiment conducted under controlled laboratory conditions. Animals were fed on hen every 15 days. Egg incubation took 21 days; mean duration of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar nymphs was 25, 30, 58, 62, and 67 days, respectively; mean nymphal development time was 39 weeks and adult longevity was 72 weeks. Females reproduced during 30 weeks, producing an average of 61.6 eggs for female on its lifetime; the average number of eggs/female/week was 2.1. Total number of eggs produced by the cohort was 1379. Average hatch for the cohort was 88.9%; it was not affected by age of the mother. Age specific survival and reproduction tables were constructed. The following population parameters were evaluated, generation time was 36.1 weeks; net reproduction rate was 89.4; intrinsic rate of natural increase was 0.125; instantaneous birth and death rates were 0.163 and 0.039 respectively; finite rate of increase 1.13; total reproductive value was 1196 and stable age distribution was 31.2% eggs, 64.7% nymphs and 4.1% adults. Finally the population characteristics of P. geniculatus lead to the conclusion that this species is a K strategist.
Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, mérida, Venezuela.
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Cabello
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Galíndez
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010203:Panstrongylus / Q000254:growth & development*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014798:Vital Statistics