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Critical threshold meal size and molt initiation in R hodnius prolixus
Author(s) -
Saenz Roberto A.,
Medone Paula,
di Clemente Natalia,
Tongen Anthony,
Rabinovich Jorge
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1111/phen.12199
Subject(s) - biology , moulting , meal , zoology , body weight , statistics , endocrinology , food science , larva , ecology , mathematics
The molting process and body growth in R hodnius prolixus ( H emiptera: R eduviidae) ( S tåhl, 1859) are significantly influenced by the availability and quality of food. Based on the body weight of each stage, the present study provides estimates of a potential critical weight threshold required for molt initiation in R . prolixus . In addition, a new measure given by the area under the weight curve is proposed, which encapsulates both body weight and time. It is shown that this measure is consistent with the data, and allows the estimation of a pre‐refractory period (i.e. the time interval between the moment at which the critical weight threshold is reached and the moment when no further meals are accepted). The present analysis estimates the critical weight threshold as 1.6, 5.3, 12.9, 42.0 and 97.0 mg for stages 1–5, respectively, whereas the values of the area under the curve threshold as 5, 16, 31.2, 159.7 and 329.9 mg days for stages 1–5, respectively. The results of the present study confirm the existence of a weight‐dependent mechanism for the initiation of molting in R . prolixus .