Chromosomal and Molecular Diversity in the Simulium ornatum Group (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Western Tian Shan Range of Central Asia

Abstract

By any measure, such as abundance, species diversity or geographic range, the Simulium ornatum species group is one of the most successful Palearctic taxa of black flies. To explore potential diversity in this group in the Tian Shan range of Central Asia, we focused on Kyrgyzstan, in which three nominal morphospecies have been recorded. Among our samples, we morphologically identified S. mesasiaticum Rubtsov and a second possible species tentatively identified as S. ferganicum Rubtsov. By analyzing banding patterns of the larval polytene chromosomes, we discovered two fixed inversions, two sex-linked rearrangements, and 19 autosomal rearrangements, including supernumerary B chromosomes. The chromosomal data indicate minimal diversity of only one or two species across the surveyed area of nearly 50,000 km2. Mitochondrial DNA (CO1) sequences fell into three distinct clusters, possibly representing separate species. The chromosomal, molecular, and morphological data indicate that Kyrgyz populations are unique within the S. ornatum group, but the data sets are not entirely congruent. Thus, reconciling data sets and assigning existing names is tentative. Simulium mesasiaticum is linked with undifferentiated sex chromosomes, one of the three CO1 clades, and higher elevations, whereas S. ferganicum is tenuously associated with differentiated sex chromosomes, a separate CO1 clade, and lower elevations. These associations leave one Kyrgyz larva, which is in a third CO1 clade, unlinked to a formal species name. Our analyses also indicate that S. ornatum Meigen sensu stricto, contrary to previous reports, does not occur in Kyrgyzstan and should be deleted from the country’s faunal list.

New Faunal Data for Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae), with the Evidence of COI Sequences, from Mediterranean Region of Türkiye

“…We also observed problematic results for S. kiritshenkoi and the species we identified as S. ornatum species complex. Many authors have stated that members of the S. ornatum species group are difficult to separate morphologically and genetically (Adler, Werner, & Kampen, 2021). Fidan (2020) investigated the phylogeny of Anatolian populations of the S. ornatum species group, using three different genes (COI, NADH2 and ITS1-2), and compared them with European populations.…”

First Record of Three Species of Genera Panotrogus Reitter, 1902 and Pseudopanotrogus Petrovitz, 1969 (Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae; Rhizotrogini) from India

“…We also observed problematic results for S. kiritshenkoi and the species we identified as S. ornatum species complex. Many authors have stated that members of the S. ornatum species group are difficult to separate morphologically and genetically (Adler, Werner, & Kampen, 2021). Fidan (2020) investigated the phylogeny of Anatolian populations of the S. ornatum species group, using three different genes (COI, NADH2 and ITS1-2), and compared them with European populations.…”

Las moscas negras (Diptera: Simuliidae) en cursos de agua urbanos y suburbanos de la ciudad de Vitoria-Gasteiz (País Vasco, España)

“…Acorde a la discrepancia morfológica (curvatura de la cresta superior) de las láminas medias montadas de S. ornatum s.l., se podría sugerir la presencia en nuestro estudio de al menos dos morfotipos o morfoformas, a tenor del número descrito hasta ahora (Adler, 2022), aunque en nuestro caso el análisis de las secuencias del gen COI no plasmó estas diferencias morfológicas observadas. El grupo S. ornatum es uno de los más ampliamente distribuidos en la región paleártica y posee una gran diversidad críptica según varios estudios (Ruiz-Arrondo et al, 2018;Onder et al, 2019;Adler et al, 2021). Por ello, es necesario un enfoque cromosómico, morfológico y molecular integrado, en particular mediante el uso de múltiples genes, para proporcionar una mayor resolución dentro de este grupo de especies (Onder et al, 2019), aunque no siempre un enfoque integrado es garantía de obtener una clara resolución taxonómica para este grupo (Adler et al, 2021).…”

“…El grupo S. ornatum es uno de los más ampliamente distribuidos en la región paleártica y posee una gran diversidad críptica según varios estudios (Ruiz-Arrondo et al, 2018;Onder et al, 2019;Adler et al, 2021). Por ello, es necesario un enfoque cromosómico, morfológico y molecular integrado, en particular mediante el uso de múltiples genes, para proporcionar una mayor resolución dentro de este grupo de especies (Onder et al, 2019), aunque no siempre un enfoque integrado es garantía de obtener una clara resolución taxonómica para este grupo (Adler et al, 2021). Nuestro trabajo incluye por primera vez para España fotografías a color de los caracteres diagnósticos más importantes de varios simulidos de relevancia, lo cual constituye un recurso de apoyo visual de las especies registradas.…”