This paper compares the predation pressure that ducks
and chickens exert on triatomines. For the tests, these
birds were placed in individual boxes together with a known
number of Triatoma infestaris and left to interact from 6
p.m till the next morning, involving a long lasting period
of complete darkness limited by two short-term periods of
semi-darkness. There was a shelter which could prevent the
bugs from being predated. The number of live and dead
triatomines was recorded considering missing bugs as
predated by the birds. Ducks exhibited a greater predatory
activity than chickens, that could be due to a long term
active period at night while chickens sleep motionless from
sunset to dawn. Surviving triatomines that had fed on
chickens outnumbered those fed on ducks suggesting that
these were less accessible to the triatomine biting.
If ducks are better than chickens to detect and eat
bugs and to interfere with their feeding in the field, an
increase in duck number might help to diminish triatomine
density. Further research is needed to determine the
feasibility of application of these experimental results.
