title: Feeding behaviour of morphologically similar Rhodnius species: influence of mechanical characteristics and salivary function.
abstract: Despite their morphological similarities, very similar Rhodnius species (R. prolixus, R. robustus, R. nasutus and R. neglectus) displayed a distinct feeding behaviour when fed on artificial feeder, pigeon or mouse. On pigeon hosts, these species showed distinct groups in terms of cumulative probing time - quicker species (R. prolixus and R. neglectus) followed by R. nasutus and finally a much slower species (R. robustus). On mouse hosts, R. nasutus showed quicker probing time compared to the other three species. Moreover, R. prolixus displayed quicker probing time compared to R. robustus and R. neglectus. Except for R. nasutus, the mean total ingestion rate tended to have different values between feeding sources (artificial feeder>pigeon>mouse). The volume ingested by each cibarial pump contraction and maximum frequency obtained using the artificial feeder are expected to be related to intrinsic mechanical characteristics of the insect feeding apparatus. However, probing time and the modulation of cibarial pump frequency on live hosts may be related to salivary function. R. prolixus showed high mechanical and salivary efficiency, achieving high values of total ingestion rate when fed on artificial feeder or either of the hosts. Comparative analysis suggests that species which possess higher total ingestion rates tend to achieve higher nutritional status, allowing them to reach higher densities.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, 31270-901, MG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
authors.forename: Mauri;cio Roberto Viana
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sant'Anna
authors.forename: Liléia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diotaiuti
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Figueiredo Gontijo
authors.forename: Nelder
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Figueiredo Gontijo
authors.forename: Marcos Horácio
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pereira