RESULTS *
Results on geographical and ecological distribution of species are shown in the Figure and in Tables I-III; 17 out of 21 provinces have produced records of triatomines (excluding doubtful reports from two more provinces). The studied species occupy 11 life zones in Ecuador. Life zones in the Andes range (2,200-6,310 m altitude) were not included in the analysis; apparently, only T. carrioni occurs there. Annual rains in areas where triatomines occur range between 62.5-125 mm/year in the tropical desert and 2,000-4,000 mm/year in the wet and moist forests (Table IV). Average temperatures ranged from 12-18ºC in the low montane forest areas to 24-26ºC in the coastal dry tropical forests (Table IV). Altitude range was 0-2,650 m (Tables I, IV). The maximum number of species recorded in a single life zone corresponds to the Amazon rainforest (seven species, excluding unconfirmed records of T. dimidiata and R. ecuadoriensis). These two latter species, deemed the main Chagas disease vectors in the country, have the widest distribution range; T. dimidiata has been reported from six different life zones in the country and R. ecuadoriensis from five (see Tables I, II, IV). The distributions of these and all the other species in relation to life zones are also summarised in Table IV.
No records from the Galápagos Islands were found.
* New field records were obtained after the preparation of the manuscript (province of Pichincha, life zone 9): Triatoma dimidiata (domestic colony), Rhodnius ecuadoriensis (adults in house), and Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus (adults in houses).
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