Triatominae are associated with various Brazilian habitats, including bird nests, animal burrows, and peridomestic structures. Despite extensive studies on triatomines in domiciliary environments in Ceará, Brazil, there has been limited research on their presence in the wild. This study focuses on the municipality of Morrinhos in Ceará, which is characterized by a Caatinga biome and riparian forests along the Acaraú River. During the study, a total of 185 nests of Pseudoseisura cristata were analyzed in rural locations and triatomines were collected in 26 nests from 12 different locations. A total of 117 triatomines was collected, belonging to three species: Psammolestes tertius, Rhodnius nasutus, and Triatoma pseudomaculata. Rhodnius nasutus was the only species found in a nest inhabited by Didelphis albiventris. Nests of P. cristata serve as shelters for various animals, providing an ideal environment for triatomines to establish colonies due to their proximity to food sources and their generalist feeding habits. The incorporation of anthropogenic materials by birds in nest construction can indirectly affect the presence of other animals that may serve as food sources for triatomines. Understanding the interactions between triatomines, birds, and their habitats is essential for assessing the risks associated with triatomine infestation in wild ecosystems.
For the sibling mosquito species Aedes triseriatus Say and Ae. hendersoni Cockerell, success of offspring is highly dependent on oviposition site selection by gravid females, and the dynamics of that selection process have been the subject of much investigation. Patterns of vertical oviposition stratification were examined in this study by placing basal and canopy level oviposition traps in relatively steep and flat terrains, as well as in flood-prone riverbank vs upland settings. Strong stratification existed in both steep and flat terrains, with Ae. triseriatus favoring basal ovitraps and Ae. hendersoni favoring canopy ovitraps. Contrary to expectations, Ae. hendersoni displayed even more marked preference for canopy ovitraps in steeper terrain. Both species avoided basal ovitraps in flood-prone locations, where Ae. triseriatus oviposited only in canopy ovitraps and greatly outnumbered Ae. hendersoni in canopy ovitraps. In contrast, the expected stratification was found in nearby upland habitats.
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