title: [Comparison of the life cycles of Rhodnius colombiensis Moreno, Jurberg & Galvão, 1999 and R. prolixus Stal, 1872 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) under laboratory conditions].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhodnius colombiensis is a sylvatic triatomine associated with wine palm trees (Attalea butyracea) in the high basin of the Magdalena river (Colombia). The frequent invasion of these vectors into human dwellings and the high prevalences of natural infection with Trypanosoma cruzi of these insects suggest an important role in the transmission of Chagas disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The length of the life cycles of R. colombiensis and R. prolixus under laboratory conditions were compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two individuals for each species were studied. The mean duration time of each stage, the number of bloodmeals for each stage, the percentage of mortality, the cause of death, the mean of eggs laid by female, the number of fertile eggs and the longevity of adults were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration time of all stages of R. colombiensis was higher than in R. prolixus, producing significant differences in the overall time from egg to adult. The mean of total eggs and fertile eggs showed significant differences, being higher in R. prolixus than in R. colombiensis. The total mortality was 31.5% for R. colombiensis and 6.5% for R. prolixus. The longevity of females was higher in R. prolixus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stages of R. prolixus are of relatively short duration. In general, the nymphs take fewer bloodmeals than R. colombiensis, the adults take more bloodmeals and oviposit a larger number of fertile eggs, and females have a greater longevity. These parameters indicated that R. prolixus has superior reproductive success in comparison with R. colombiensis under the experimental conditions used. These new life cycle data of R. colombiensis will be useful for maintenance of laboratory colonies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arévalo
authors.forename: Julio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carranza
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guhl
authors.forename: Jairo Alfonso
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Clavijo
authors.forename: Gustavo Adolfo
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Vallejo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000635:transmission; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000472:pathogenicity
vernacular_title: Comparación del ciclo de vida de Rhodnius colombiensis Moreno, Jurberg & Galvão, 1999 y Rhodnius prolixus Stal, 1872 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) en condiciones de laboratorio.