J.-L. Da Lage and collaborators published an article in Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology describing the presence of palm tree DNA in the digestive content of a Rhodnius supposedly strictly hematophagous. An amylase, enzyme associated with plant degradation, was also identified in the bug. The hypothesis of a nutritional symbiosis more complex is proposed. The content of this article was used to write an article of résultats scientifiques from CNRS Ecologie et Environnement and was published online in X.
Da Lage J-L, Fontenelle A., Filée J., Merle M., Béranger J-M, Almeida C.E., Folly Ramos E., Harry M. (2023). Evidence that hematophagous triatomine bugs may eat plants in the wild. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104059