Table 1 Summary of phenotypic and ecological variation in Rhodnius ecuadoriensis
Form | Phenotypic traitsa | Geography | Primary (wild) habitatsb | Other habitatsb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
El Oro-Loja-Peru; typical phenotypec | Similar to species types; pale yellowish; mottled pattern conspicuous; small size (body length approx. 13–14 mm); short and stout heads; MPP pointed | Southern-Andean populations; inter-Andean valleys with dry forests in southwestern Ecuador (El Oro and Loja) and northwestern Peru (Pacific basins and middle-upper Marañón basin) | Squirrel tree-nests (Ecuadorian populations); hollow trees with Didelphis (Peruvian populations); likely also bird and rodent nests on trees and cacti | Houses and peridomestic structures; breeding colonies mainly associated with hen nests, dovecotes and guinea-pig pens |
Manabí; intermediate phenotype | Light brown-yellowish; mottled pattern conspicuous; intermediate size (approx. 15–16 mm); heads longer than in typical specimens; MPP pointed | Northern-lowland populations; dry forests of coastal (i.e. western) Ecuador | Phytelephas aequatorialis palms | Squirrel, bird, rat or mouse nests; occasionally in man-made habitats (mainly peridomestic, with adult bugs often found invading houses) |
Tsáchilas; highly atypical phenotype | Dark brown-black with brown-reddish markings; mottled pattern inconspicuous due to very dark background color; large (approx. 17–18 mm); long and narrow heads; MPP generally truncated | Northern-Andean populations; wet premontane (or “cloud”) forests (approx. 300–1800 m a.s.l.) along the Andes foothills in western Ecuador | Phytelephas aequatorialis palms | None known; adult (winged) bugs occasionally found invading houses |