C. Luz et al., EFFECT OF FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY ON THE LONGEVITY OF STARVED RHODNIUS-PROLIXUS (HEM, TRIATOMINAE), Journal of applied entomology, 122(5), 1998, pp. 219-222
The survival potential of newly emerged unfed and starved Rhodnius pro
lixus nymphs was studied under various regimes of fluctuating temperat
ures between 15 and 35 degrees C and humidities between 43 and 97%. Bo
th temperature and humidity were found to have an impact on survival.
With fluctuating conditions at 12/12 h, survival of first instar nymph
s was the longest after exposure to lower temperatures and elevated hu
midities. Longevity diminished with increasing temperatures at lower h
umidities. At alternating extreme humidity, high 97% and low 43%, nymp
hs were more sensitive to starvation than after combining extreme humi
dity 97 or 43% with humidity of 75 or 86%, independent of temperatures
. First instar nymphs were more sensitive to starvation, than third an
d fifth instars.