Trapping Triatominae in Silvatic Habitats

• Main Authors: Noireau François, Abad-Franch Fernando, Valente Sebastião AS, Dias-Lima Artur, Lopes Catarina M, Cunha Vanda, Valente Vera C, Palomeque Francisco S, Carvalho-Pinto Carlos José de, Sherlock Ítalo, Aguilar Marcelo, Steindel Mario, Grisard Edmundo C, Jurberg José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2002-01-01
• Series: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.
• Subjects: Triatominae; trapping system; silvatic environment; terrestrial ecotopes; arboreal ecotopes
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762002000100009

Large-scale trials of a trapping system designed to collect silvatic Triatominae are reported. Live-baited adhesive traps were tested in various ecosystems and different triatomine habitats (arboreal and terrestrial). The trials were always successful, with a rate of positive habitats generally over 20% and reaching 48.4% for palm trees of the Amazon basin. Eleven species of Triatominae belonging to the three genera of public health importance (Triatoma, Rhodnius and Panstrongylus) were captured. This trapping system provides an effective way to detect the presence of triatomines in terrestrial and arboreal silvatic habitats and represents a promising tool for ecological studies. Various lines of research are contemplated to improve the performance of this trapping system.