Residual house infestations by Triatoma infestans

Abstract

The Gómez-Núñez method was used for testing houses considered free of the Triatoma infestans infestation at the routine inspection made before the selective insecticide spraying (BHC). The test was made in the Bairro da Ilha area, County of Salto de Pirapora, São Paulo State, Brazil, and includes fifteen human houses and six domestic animals dwellings. After nine weeks, the results showed that four houses and two animal dwellings were infested by triatomids bugs. Besides this, the observation of an artificial ecotope (chicken house) constructed for atractting triatomids, was concluded after one and a half years. This last inspection was made by its complete destruction and two hundred bugs (two adults and one hundred ninety eight nymphs) were collected. So the defficiency of the house routine inspection for the selective insecticide spraying is concluded. Nevertheless, the Triatoma infestans seems to have an active dispersion power which must not be overlooked.