ECOLOGY OF TRIATOMA-RUBROVARIA (HEMIPTERA, TRIATOMINAE) IN WILD AND PERIDOMESTIC ENVIRONMENTS OF URUGUAY

This paper describes population structure, spatial distribution and ha bitat selection of wild and peridomestic populations of Triatoma rubro varia (Blanchard, 1843). Field studies were carried out at Las Piedras and La Bolsa in the Northern Department of Artigas, Uruguay. A semici rcular sampling area, divided in seven or eight triangular sectors was sequentially examined from October 1990 to November 1991. At Las Pied ras (typical wild habitat) 1063 T. rubrovaria bugs were collected from 84% of the rocky outcroops (''pedregales''). Abundance varied by seas on peaking in October-November (spring). Throughout the year, most of the population was made up of third, fourth and fifth instar nymphs; a dults were found from October to March. In the peridomestic environmen t of La Bolsa, however T. rubrovaria was less common and showed a more irregular instar distribution. Colonized ecotopes, were those close t o houses. In both sites T. rubrovaria was mainly associated with the g eckonid Homonota uruguayensis and the cockroach Blaptica dubia.