Characterization of Female External Genitalia and Eggs of Four South American Species of the Triatoma Laporte, 1832 Genus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Abstract

Triatoma is the most diversified and one of the most important genera from an epidemiological perspective. Given the difficulty in identifying some species of the Triatoma genus, morphological, histological, and morphometric studies were performed to provide new characters that make it possible to differentiate T. garciabesi, T. guasayana, T. patagonica, and T. sordida sensu stricto, triatomines that overlap geographically and have vector potential. Through the external female genitalia, as well as morphology, morphometry, and histology of eggshells, it was possible to discriminate the four species. In addition, this study reinforces the taxonomic validity of T. garciabesi and provides new data for discussion on systematic issues of T. guasayana and T. patagonica.

Checklist and phenetics studies of nymphs of two species of triatomines: Triatoma lenti Sherlock & Serafim, 1967 and Triatoma sherlocki Papa, Jurberg, Carcavallo, Cerqueira, Barata, 2002 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

“…However, the literature on immature forms of certain groups is scarce, difficult to use, or nonexistent 79 . Epidemiological studies and control measures require precise taxonomic determination of T. brasiliensis subcomplex 80 , 86 , 89 . Therefore, this study provides morphological and morphometric data on the nymphal instars of T. lenti and T. sherlocki , corroborating the specific taxonomy of these species.…”

Relationship between genetic diversity and morpho-functional characteristics of flight-related traits in Triatoma garciabesi (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

“…Regardless, two decades later, evidence based on microhabitat characters, male genitalia and cytogenetics reaffirmed its taxonomic status as T. garciabesi [for review see 11 ]. Various approaches have been used to justify the taxonomic validity of this species, including geographical distribution [ 7 , 10 , 12 ], morphology of the head, eggs and genitalia [ 13 , 14 ], morphometry of the forewings, head and pronotum [ 8 , 14 , 15 ], cuticular hydrocarbons [ 9 ], isozymes [ 17 ], cytogenetic characteristics [ 7 ] and molecular analyses [ 7 , 8 , 18 ]. Triatoma garciabesi is usually found in peridomestic environments, mainly associated with trees where chickens roost [ 19 ].…”