EFFECT OF FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY ON THE LONGEVITY OF STARVED RHODNIUS-PROLIXUS (HEM, TRIATOMINAE)

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.