LIFE-CYCLE AND REPRODUCTIVE PATTERNS OF TRIATOMA-RUBROFASCIATA (DE-GEER, 1773) (HEMIPTERA, REDUVIIDAE), UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

The life cycle and reproductive patterns of Triatoma rubrofasciata wer e studied along with laboratory conditions for the establishment of a prolific colony. The insects were divided into four groups: two of the m were maintained at room temperature (20.5 degrees C to 33 degrees C and 85% +/- 5% of relative humidity), the other two in a climatic cham ber (CC) (temperature: 29 degrees C, humidity: 80% +/- 5%). The groups were fed weekly or fortnightly on Swiss mice. The females from the gr oup kept in the CC and fed weekly had longer life span, as well as a h igher number of eggs, fertile eggs and hatchings; the group kept in th e CC and fed fortnightly had a shorter life span for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd instars and a lower mortality rate for all instars. It was conclud ed that a constant high temperature (CC at 29 degrees C) is the most s uitable condition for the maintenance of a colony of T, rubrofasciata regardless of the interval between repasts.