Interactions between Triatoma infestans and Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera : Reduviidae) in artificial ecotopes: Population growth and age structure

Interaction characteristics between Triatoma infestans Klug, 1834 and Triat oma sordida Stal, 1859 populations were studied in artificial ecotopes for 16 mo. The experimental design involved simultaneous treatments with T, inf estans and T. sordida together in the same experimental unit (EU) and each separately in two control units (CU) made of adobe bricks. Chickens were us ed as host animals. Each unit was dismantled monthly to estimate triatomine population size and age structure, rebuilt, and repopulated with the same insects. In both units, T, infestans population growth followed a logistic model, whereas T, sordida did not show this pattern. T. infestans completed a generation in 24 wk (EU) and 32 wk (CU1),whereas T, sordida did not comp lete one generation during this period. We concluded that T, infestans show ed a Letter colonizing success than T, sordida. After living together for 1 yr, an interference process took place that resulted in the extinction of T. sordida.