First record of domestic colonies of the dark chromatic variant of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Abstract

Triatoma infestans (Klug) is the main vector of Chagas disease in southern South America. Although this species shows a similar morphology and chromatic pattern throughout its geographical distribution, some melanic variations have been described. Most of these variants were recognized as part of wild populations constituting evidence of a wild distribution for T. infestans greater than the expected. This paper reports the presence of eight adults and fifteen immature individuals of melanic T. infestans in domiciliary units of Argentine Gran Chaco. This is the first report of domestic colonies of the dark chromatic morph of T. infestans