We present here a multisource approach that takes advantage of several disciplines to address a taxonomic issue. A triatomine related to Rhodnius robustus Larrousse, 1927 was recently found in the state of Rondônia, Brazil. The name Rhodnius montenegrensis n. sp. is suggested because it was found in the municipality of Monte Negro. The main differences between these two species can be detected in the female and male genitalia, but there are also noticeable differences in their eggs. Molecular analysis using PCR-RFLP technique and Bayesian inferences based on a fragment of the Cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene corroborated the morphological findings. We used this integrative approach to address the taxonomic decision for a new Rhodnius species and its relationship with others of this genus. Results obtained herein stress that morphology must be used as the major approach for obtaining phenotypic information, and molecular data should be taken as a complementary tool.
Rhodnius
marabaensis
sp. n. was collected on 12 May 2014 in the Murumurú Environmental Reserve in the city of Marabá, Pará State, Brazil. This study was based on previous consultation of morphological descriptions of 19 Rhodnius species and compared to the identification key for the genus Rhodnius. The examination included specimens from 18 Rhodnius species held in the Brazilian National and International Triatomine Taxonomy Reference Laboratory in the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The morphological characteristics of the head, thorax, abdomen, genitalia, and eggs have been determined. Rhodnius
prolixus and Rhodnius
robustus were examined in more detail because the BLAST analysis of a cyt-b sequence shows they are closely related to the new species, which also occurs in the northern region of Brazil. The most notable morphological features that distinguish Rhodnius
marabaensis
sp. n. are the keel-shaped apex of the head, the length of the second segment of the antennae, the shapes of the prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum, the set of spots on the abdomen, the male genitalia, the posterior and ventral surfaces of the external female genitalia, and the morphological characteristics of the eggs. Rhodnius
jacundaensis Serra, Serra & Von Atzingen (1980) nomen nudum specimens deposited at the MCCFMaraba Cultural Center Foundation - were examined and considered as a synonym of Rhodnius
marabaensis
sp. n.
Multiple fragments of mitochondrial DNA genes (cytochrome b, cytochrome oxidase I, and 16S rDNA) were used to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships among Triatoma melanocephala, Triatoma tibiamaculata, Triatoma vitticeps, and other members of Triatoma brasiliensis subcomplex under a Bayesian framework and maximum parsimony criterion. With the addition of new sequences of T. tibiamaculata and T. vitticeps, Triatoma juazeirensis, Triatoma melanica and the newly sequenced T. melanocephala, the three first sylvatic species, T. melanocephala, T. tibiamaculata and T. vitticeps, were strongly recovered into a clade separate from the other with the remaining Triatoma species from South America, such as the members of T. brasiliensis subcomplex. Panstrongylus megistus was recovered as a sister to T. tibiamaculata, whereas T. vitticeps was a sister to T. melanocephala. This study revealed the non-monophyly of the T. brasiliensis subcomplex, and the polyphyly of Triatoma was reinforced by the placement of these three sylvatic species with Dipetalogaster, Meccus, Mepraia, and Panstrongylus. The results herein shown highlight the need of generic revision in Triatomini.
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