THE EFFECT OF NUTRIENT INTAKE ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE EGG PRODUCTION OF RHODNIUS PROLIXUS STÅHL (HEMIPTERA: REDUVIIDAE)

Abstract

Nymphs of Rhodnius prolixus usually take a meal that is nine times the body weight before feeding. Adults usually take only three times their body weight as a blood meal. During the first 24 hours after feeding, the insect eliminates over 40% of the weight of the blood meal as dilute urine. The weight loss after this period is much more gradual.The minimum blood meal which promoted molting in various instars varied between 24.7 and 42.8% of the standard "maximum meal" for each instar; the minimum meal that promoted egg production was 31.3%. Limiting the size of the blood meal to these levels does not extend the time required for molting or egg production.Third- and fifth-instar nymphs, brought to a high level of nutrition by being fed a series of meals that are too small to cause molting, can be made to molt by a terminal meal that is about half the minimum single meal required to induce molting. Thus the amount of abdominal distension required to initiate molting can be lowered if the animals have been brought to a high level of nutrition.Up to a limit of 28 eggs, the number of eggs produced by a female shows good correlation with the amount of blood taken as food.