In order to widen the present knowledge of this species, was done a detailed description of eggs and all nymphal stages as well as the external genitalia of the males and females using light and scanning electron microscopy. The characteristics were compared with another species of the same genus C. pilosa Barber, 1937. Observations on the male internal genitalia were also done.

In the biological study, the development of the biological cycle of the insect under different feeding conditions was evaluated. The insects were fed on either mouse blood (c) or pigeon blood (p) using two types of rearing techniques (individual or group) at 28(graus) C and 90% relative humidity (which is equivalent to their natural environment). A fifth cycle studied, was fed on mouse blood reared on group, and mantained at laboratory environmental temperature. In the five cycles analyzed, it was found that groups on mouse blood at near natural conditions developed more rapidly (between 60 and 73 days) and had a lower rate of mortality (16.66%). The daily handling and changes in environment, of the individually reared insects, for observation of biological characteristics (no. and duration of bloodmeal, defecation and first fed of each stage) had a negative influence. None of the individuals fed on mouse or pigeon blood reached adult hood. It was found that the longevity and the fertility rate were significantly superior on couples maintained individually on mouse blood. These males had an average lifespan of 110,26 days and the females had an average lifespan of 104,46 days. The average number of eggs laid by each female was 21,26. Four couples kept in groups (five couples in each group) under the same condition, the longevity for males was 51,86 days and for females was 81,06 days. An average of 10,5 eggs were laid by each female. However, the percentage of fertile eggs was higher in couples kept in groups (72.15%) than in the individual couples (57.68%).

Foi feito um estudo sobre a resistência ao jejum em todas as fases evolutivas e pesagens em diferentes situações nutricionais de Triatoma lecticularia (alimentado; não alimentado; na morte após o jejum) com temperatura e umidade registradas. Observou-se que os períodos de resistência das fases ninfais apresentaram médias (dias) crescentes: 1º: 45,84; 2º: 61; 3º: 88,74; 4º: 123,47; 5º 162,30. Na fase adulta as médias foram aproximadas à do 3º estádio (para os machos 88,94 e para as fêmeas 83,66). O procedimento de pesagens permitiu registrar a quantidade de sangue ingerido, a perda de peso durante o jejum e o respectivo percentual em relação ao peso inicial. Esta espécie tem assinalada sua distribuição geográfica na região Neártica, onde tem sido encontrda infectada com Trypanosoma cruzi associada a Neotoma micropus Baird e Spermophilus variagatus (Erxeleben).

The resistance to fasting of Triatoma lecticularia was studied in all phases of the life cycle and the insect weighed in different nutritional situations (fed, not fed, death after starvation). The temperature and humidity level were also recorded. The nymphal phases showed increasing resistance to fasting as demonstrated by the following averages (days) 1st 45.84; 2nd 61; 3rd 88.74; 4th 123.44; 5th 162.30. Upon the adult phase, the averages were similar to those of the 3rd stage for the male insects 88.94 and for females 83.66. The weighing technique allowed for the measeurement of the quantity of blood ingested, the weight loss during the fast and the percentage weight lost as related to the initial weight. The species is found in the Neartic region where it has been found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and is associated with the terrestial rodents Neotoma micropus Baird and Spermophilus variagatus (Erxelebem).

In order to widen the present knowledge on the biology of this species, a study on the resistance to starvation was carried out among all nymphal stages and the adult stage (male and female). All evolutive stages were weighed on precision scale in three different nutritional situations: fed, non-fed and death registered after starvation. This procedure has allowed us to calculate the amount of blood taken in each stage and during the whole cycle, the average loss of weight during starvation and its relations with the initial weight. The insects were fed on mice and after eclosion or ecdisis they were isolated for observation of the starving period. Throuhout the whole experiment they were kept in a B. O. D./DOB incubator (28ºC and 90%R.U.). The resistance to starvation of the insects has grown from the first stage on (average of 15.5 days) to the fifth stage (average of 75.64 days); on the adult stage, the resistance period was equal to the third stage with an average of 41.76 for the males and 44.82 for the females. The amount of ingested blood was greater at the fifth stage worth 34.14 mg, corresponding to 2,04 times its initial weight. The average weight loss during the starvation was greater at the adult stage (23.95 mg), corresponding to 61.52% of the total weight.

Avaliou-se a influência de dois tipos de dieta na cronologia da ontogênsese de Dipetalogaster maximus. Alimentou-se um grupo em sangue de camundongos normais (C) e outro em sangue de pombos (P). Ambos foram mantidos em estufa B.O.D. a 28ºC e 65% U.R. O grupo alimentado em C, atingiu a fase adulta com X=130,1 dias e o grupo alimentado em P com X=145,68 dias. A percentagem total de mortalidade foi significativamente superior nos alimentados em P (63,71%) em relação aos alimentados em C (31,18%). Quanto á resistência ao jejum, o período de sobrevivência foi acentuadamente maior para o grupo alimentado em C. Principalmente nos 3º, 4º e 5º estádios. Estas observações complementam nossos registros anteriores desta espécie, mantida nas mesmas condições, sobre: fertilidade das fêmeas, ritmo de postura, viabilidade dos ovos e curva da mortalidade x fertilidade.

Two kinds of blood-meal were assayed in order to broaden the knowledge of the biology of Dipetalogaster maximus: one group of insects was fed on normal mouse blood (C) and another group fed on pigeon blood (P). Both groups were kept in a B.O.D. - chamber (28ºC and 65% R.H.). Significant data concerning their development was registered: the group fed on C reached the adult stage in X = 130,1 days and the group fed on P in X = 145,6 days. Mortality of group fed on P, (63,71%) was doubled that of group fed on C (31,18%). The period of survival, as measured by resistance to starvation, was markedly greater in group fed on C, particularly in the third, fourth and fifth stages. These observations complete our former records of this species, kept under the same conditions of female fertility, egg vialbility and comparative mortality and fertility rates.

A dieta alimentar teve influência marcante na bionomia de Dipetalogaster maximus. Os registros obtidos, são resultantes de observações diárias durante dez meses em relação à postura e à mortalidade dos adultos. Utilizaram-se dois grupos de dez casais da mesma idade (A e B), alimentados semanalmente em sangue de camundongos normais e dois grupos de dez casais (C e D) que nas mesmas condições se alimentaram em sangue de pombo. Todos os grupos mantidos em estufa B.O.D a 28ºC e 65% ± 2,5% U.R, condições consideradas adequadas ao seu desenvolvimento. No grupo A registraram-se 101 posturas com total de 1.018 ovos; em B observaram-se 118 posturas, totalizando 1.318 ovos. Nos grupos alimentados em pombo observou-se produtividade inferior: 70 posturas em C, com 398 ovos e 66 posturas em D com 495 ovos. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na curva de motalidade das fêmeas.

The bionomics of Dipetalogaster maximus (Uhler, 1894) was greatly influenced by the source of boold meal. The data were obtained upon daily observation of adult insects for a ten month period, in relation to oviposition and mortality. Two groups of ten couples (A and B) of the same age were fed weekly on normal mouse blood and two other groups of ten couples (C and D) which were fed under the same conditions on pigeon blood. All the groups were kept in a B.O.D chamber at saitable conditions (28ºC and 65% ± 2,5% R.H.) for their development. The A group registered 101 ovipositions with a total of 1018 eggs; and B group registered 118 ovipositions with 1318 eggs. The groups C and D fed on pigeon blood showed a lower productivity: 70 ovipositions in C, with 398 eggs and 66 ovipositions in D, with 495 eggs. Significant differences were not observed in the mortality of the females.

O precoceno II aplicado topicamente em ninfas de 4ª estádio, nas dosagens de 200, 300 e 400 micron-grama/1 micron-litro de acetona, proporcionou o aparecimento de adultóides, em diferentes percentagens com as seguintes características: tegumento alterado, aparelho bucal deformado, asas braquípteras, tarsos trímeros, ocelos, evidentes e genitália externa com estruturas desenvolvidas e deformadas; genitália interna em estágio intermediário entre ninfas de 4§ e 5§ estádios. Os adultóides apresentaram um período de sobrevivência inversamente proporcional à dosagem aplicada, variando de 3 a 22 dias, não tendo se alimentado devido as alterações.

The morphogenetic effect of precocene II on 4th instar nymphs of Triatoma infestans was examined. Topical treatment with precocene II (200, 300 and 400 µg/nymph) induced the formation of adultoids with the following characteristics; rudimentary wings, three segmented tarsi, ocelli, deformed genitalia and mouth-parts and testes with intermediary development. Precocene II also increases the duration of the molting cycle. The survival of the adultoid insects was related to the inverse of the applied doses. These data extend our knowledge of the action of precocene II on triatominae species.

Foi feito um estudo da estrutura dos ovos e morfologia das ninfas, através da microscopia ótica e eletrônica de varredura, na procura de estabelecer novos parãmetros de identificação. Em microscopia ótica (MO) os ovos apresentam a superfície exocorial dividida em áreas poligonais. O exocório do corpo possui polígonos maiores do que os do opérculo, porém ambos são lisos. Em microscopia eletrõnica de varredura (MEV) o exocório do opérculo apresenta áreas poligonais de superfície estofada em pequenos sulcos irregulares e perfurações distribuídas aleatoriamente. O exocório do corpo possui áreas pouco acolchoadas com perfurações na superfície e nos bordos. Nas ninfas o sulco estridulatório apresenta características próprias para cada estádio.

A study on the structure of the eggs and morphology of nymphs, was carried out using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to establish new methods of identification. With OM the eggs show an exochorial surface divided in polygonal areas. The exochorion of the body has polygonous which are larger than those of the cap, however both of them are smooth. With SEM the exochorion of the cap is upholstered with small and irregular perfurations, spread at random. The exochorion of the body is less upholstered with perfuration at the surface and on the edges. The nymphs show differences in the stridulatory grooves, which are characteristics of each instar.

Utilizando a microscopia ótica (MO) e eletrônica de varredura (MEV) procurou-se fornecer dados a taxionomia através da estrutura dos ovos e morfologia das ninfas, destes vetores da doença de Chagas. Os ovos em MO apresentam a superfície exocorial do opérculo e do corpo dividida em áreas poligonais com ornamentação própria; em T. maculata o exocório do corpo tem áreas indefinidas. Em MEV o exocório dos opérculos apresenta áreas poligonais de superfície estofada com pequena sulcos irregulares e perfurações distribuídas aleatoriamente nas duas espécies. O exocório do corpo apresenta: em T. maculata áreas acolchoadas com perfurações mais numerosas nos bordos, visualizando-se a borda corial, goteira espermática, aerópilas e micrópilas; em T. pseudomaculata as áreas são planas com numerosas perfurações. Nas ninfas o sulco estridulatório e o rostro apresentam diferenças significativas. O sulco estridulatórios em MO possibilitou diferenciar ninfas de 1º, 2º e 3º estádios, os 4º e 5º estádios apresentam-se semelhantes. Em MEV a diferenciação é acentuada. O rostro em MO apresenta pilosidade característica a partir do 3º estádio. T. maculata apresenta pêlos curtos e esparsos no 1º e 2º artículos e longos e numerosos no 3º, em T. pseudo-maculata semelhantes, porém mais curtos no 3º artículo.

As an aid in the identification of vectors of Chagas' disease we have studied the structure of the eggs and morphology of nymphs by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The eggs as seen by OM show the exochorion of the body doesn't have defined areas. In SEM the exochorion of the cap appears as upholstered polygonal areas with small irregular grooves and perforations spread at random in both species. The exochorion of the body in T. maculata is upholstered with more numerous perforations on the edge visualizing the rim of the shell, spermatic groove, pseudomicropyles and micropyles; in T. pseudomaculata there are flat areas with numerous perforations. The nymphs show differences cencerning the stridulatory groove and rostrum. The stridulatory groove when seen by OM shows differences in nymphs of 1st, 2nd and 3rd intars, while 4th and 5th are similar; in SEM the differences are clear. In OM the rostrum shows typical pilosity to each species from 3rd instar. In T. maculata the setae are short and scattered on the 1st and 2nd segments and are long and numerous on the 3rd. In T. pseudomaculata the setae are similar but are short on the 3rd segment.

Com o propósito de vir controlar os triatomíneos, vetores da doneça de Chgas, por substâncias não convencionais, analisamos a atuação e os efeitos de Precoceno II por tratamento tópico e oral em ninfas do 1º ao 4º estádio de Rhodnius prolixus. Com enfoque comparativo entre os dois tipos de aplicação, fizemos uma análise de deformações morfológicas externas, principalmente das estruturas genitais externas de ambos os sexos.

The morphogenetic effects of Precocene II in nymphs of 1st-,2nd-,3rd-, and 4th- instar of Rhodnius prolixus were studied. A high number of insects underwent precocious metamorphosis by topical treatment (10-30 µg/.insect) or adding the drug to the blood meal (25 µg/ml of blood).Adultoids of 4th- and 5th-instar, obtained by both treatments of 3rd- and 4 th-instar, respectively had mainly fully adult abdominal cuticle, ocelli, three segmented tarsi, rudimentary wings containing adult articulation with the thorax and deformed genitalia while adultiforms of 2nd- and 3rd-instar had very slight imaginal morphological characteristics. Topical treatment induced a high mortality in nymphs of 1st-instar and Precocene II given orally produced a high number of adultoids in this instar. The mode of application and the action of Precocene II on different nymphal instars were interpreted.

Foi feita uma análise minuciosa da morfologia externa de Oxyagrion terminale Selys, 1876, onde foram interpretadas as principais estruturas da cabeça, tórax, patas, asas e abdômen vistos de vários ângulos, dando especial atenção ao estudo da genitália de ambos os sexos, em microscopia ótica e eletrônica de varredura.

A full description of the external morphology of Oxyagrion terminale Selys, 1876, was made through optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The main structures of the head, torax, legs, wings and abdomen, were studied with specieal attention to the genital structures of both sexes.