title: Effect of feeding frequency on the reproductive efficiency of two species of Triatoma with different epidemiological importance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Triatominae, reproductive efficiency is an important factor influencing population dynamics, and a useful parameter in measuring a species' epidemiological significance as a vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909). The reproductive efficiency of triatomines is affected by food availability; hence, we measured and compared the effects of feeding frequency on the reproductive parameters of Triatoma patagonica (Del Ponte, 1929) and Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1934), and the effects of starvation on T. patagonica.
  
  
  METHODS
  Couples from both species were fed weekly, or every 3 weeks; in addition, females in couples of T. patagonica were not fed. Each couple was observed weekly and reproductive efficiency was assessed on the following parameters: fecundity (eggs/female), fertility (eggs hatched/eggs laid), initiation and end of oviposition, initiation of mating, number of matings/week, and number of reproductive weeks. Relative meal size index (RMS), blood consumption index (CI), and E values (eggs/mg blood) were also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in feeding frequency affected the reproductive parameters of T. patagonica only, with a decrease in fecundity and number of reproductive weeks for those fed every 3 weeks, or not fed. The reproductive period, RMS index, and CI were lower for T. patagonica than T. infestans. However, despite the lower fecundity of T. patagonica, this species required less blood to produce eggs, with an E values of 2 compared to 2.94 for T. infestans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the differences in fecundity observed between species reflect the availability of food in their natural ecotopes.
authors.affiliation: Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Referencias de Vectores, Pabellón Rawson, Hospital Colonia de Santa María de Punilla, Santa María de Punilla, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lobbia
authors.affiliation: Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nattero
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catalá
authors.affiliation: Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crocco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D013217:Starvation; D014224:Triatoma / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*