Alberprosenia genus

Alberprosenia (Martínez & Carcavallo 1977) - Two species:

1. Alberprosenia goyovargasi (Venezuela: Zulia)
2. Alberprosenia malheiroi (Brazil: Para)

Distribution:

Characteristics:

- Small triatomines (5-8mm)

- Overall body color black, with simple yellow pattern elements

- Silvestre

- Eyes very large, short and wide head, pre and post ocula region of same length

- Antenniferous tubercles very close to the eyes, short, without apicolateral projections

- Body integument minutely granulose and rugose

Biology:

- Arboreal

- Very little information known

Alberprosenia goyovargasi (Martínez & Carcavallo 1977)

Characteristics:

- Length: 5 mm, the smallest triatomine

Biology:

- Associated with reptiles (snakes, lezards) (Dujardin et al 2000)

- Accept to feed on human blood in laboratory (Lent & Zydodzinsky 1979)

- Under bark of dead trees in forest (Farias, Zulia, Venezuela)

Alberprosenia malheiroi (Serra, Atzingen & Serra 1980)

Characteristics:

- Length: 7-8 mm

- General color black, with brown pilosity; hemelytra and femur-tibia articulation with more light coloration (see Carcavallo et al 1995)

Biology:

- In forest, palm trees, bird nests (Jacunda y Maraba, Para, Brazil)

- Associated with bats (Pteropteryx), in palm trees "bacaba" (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.). Also in palm trees "Açai" (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in nests of the bird "pica-pau" (Picidae)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barrett TV. 1991. Advances in Triatomine bug ecology in relation to Chagas disease. Advances in Disease Vector Research, 8(6): 142-176.

Carcavallo RU, Justo NS & Martinez, A. 1978. Descripción de las ninfas II, III y IV de Alberprosenia goyovargasi Martinez & Carcavallo, 1977. Observaciones con microscopia electrónica de Barrido. Bol. Dir. Malariol. San. Amb. 18(2): 132-138.

Carcavallo RU, Barata JMS, da Costa AIP & Serra OP. 1995. Alberprosenia malheiroi Serra, Atzingen & Serra, 1987 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). Redescription and bionomics. Rev. Saude Publica 29(6): 488-495.

Carcavallo RU, Galindez Giron, I, Jurberg, J & Lent H. 1998. Atlas of Chagas’ disease vectors in the Americas. Vol I, II, III. FioCruz Edition.

Dujardin JP, Schofield CJ & Panzera F. 2000. Les vecteurs de la maladie de Chagas. Recherches taxonomiques, biologiques et génétiques. Académie Royales des Sciences d'Outre-Mer.

Lent H & Wygodzinsky P. 1979. Revision of the Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), and their significance as vectors of Chagas disease. Bull. American Mus. Nat. Hist. 163 (Art. 3): 125-520.

Martinez A & Carcavallo RU. 1977. Un Nuevo Triatominae neotropical. Folia Ent. Mexicana 38: 109-118.

Serra RG, Atzingen NCB & Serra OP. 1980. Nova espécie do gênero Alberprosenia Martinez & Carcavallo, 1977, do Estado do Para, Brasil. Resumos do V Congresso Brasileiro de Parasitologia. Rio de Janeiro: 126.

Serra RG, Atzingen NCB & Serra OP. 1987. Nueva especie del genero Alberprosenia Martinez & Carcavallo, 1977, del Estado de Para, Brazil. Chagas 4(1): 3.