Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/6814
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WATER LOSS IN TRIATOMA BRASILIENSIS
Author
Affilliation
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Universite François Rabelais. Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte. Tours, France.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Universite François Rabelais. Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte. Tours, France.
Abstract
The effect of the relative humidity (RH) of the environment on water loss is studied in Triatoma brasiliensis. Starved or recently fed early stages of T. brasiliensisare exposed to 15, 37, 46 and 73% RH. Water loss is estimated by weighing individual insects daily. The results obtained with starved insects show that the group maintained at 15% RH loses more water and shows a higher mortality compared with the others. An experiment in which recently fed nymphs are exposed to different RHs shows that all groups of insects lose the greatest amount of water during the first day. The group exposed to 15% RH show a higher water loss than the others before and after ecdysis. The survival of recently fed nymphs is not affected by the level of RH to which they are exposed. The results are discussed in relation to the water balance in this species.
Share