How to translate text using browser tools
1 July 2009 Copulation and Mate Guarding Behavior in Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Ana C. R. Vitta, Marcelo G. Lorenzo
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The hematophagous bug Triatoma brasiliensis (Neiva) is an important vector of Chagas disease in Brazil. We describe the mating behavior of this species in a comparative manner and analyze the effect of time elapsed since the first imaginal bloodmeal on motivation of males to mate, on female mate-rejections, and on overall mating frequency. We also evaluate whether females of this species copulate with several males in short time intervals, and we examine whether the duration of copulation may vary in the presence of other males compared with what is observed with isolated pairs. Age affected the motivation of males to perform mating attempts, whereas nutritional status affected the receptivity of females. Results showed that 70% of the females tested accepted copulating with three males over a period of 90 min, whereas the remaining 30% mated with at least two males. Mating duration in T. brasiliensis was prolonged in the presence of other males compared with observations of isolated pairs, and males of this species performed long postcopulatory associations only in the presence of other males, apparently as a mate guarding response to the presence of potential competitors.

© 2009 Entomological Society of America
Ana C. R. Vitta and Marcelo G. Lorenzo "Copulation and Mate Guarding Behavior in Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)," Journal of Medical Entomology 46(4), 789-795, (1 July 2009). https://doi.org/10.1603/033.046.0409
Received: 12 December 2008; Accepted: 24 March 2009; Published: 1 July 2009
JOURNAL ARTICLE
7 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
Chagas disease
mate guarding
mating behavior
polyandry
sexual maturation
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top