Natural Crossbreeding between Sympatric Species of the Phyllosoma Complex (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Indicate the Existence of Only One Species with Morphologic and Genetic Variations

Abstract

Abstract. The nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome B gene and the antennal phenotypes were analyzed for the following triatomine species: Triatoma longipennis, Triatoma pallidipennis, and Triatoma picturata , which belong to the Phyllosoma complex. These species inhabit sympatric areas from Talpa de Allende, Autlan de Navarro, and Teocuitatlan de Corona in Jalisco, Mexico. Molecular marker analysis showed that the sympatric individuals are the natural crossbred descendents of different individuals living in close proximity in these natural areas that resulted in mixed populations. The antennal phenotype results are coincident with these genetic findings, which point to the high similitude between all Phyllosoma complex populations analyzed. These data support the hypothesis that these species are morphotypes with chromatic and genetic varieties, which preserves the possibility of natural breeding with fertile descent. In conclusion, our results strongly support the hypothesis that T. pallidipennis, T. longipennis, and T. picturata are subspecies of the Phyllosoma complex.

Genetic Variation of North American Triatomines (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Initial Divergence between Species and Populations of Chagas Disease Vector

“…For example, inconsistency in morphologic and genetic characteristics between sympatric species as a result of natural hybridization has been reported, and re-validation of the subspecies in this complex has been proposed. [38][39][40][41] In areas with sympatric speciation, classification problems could be common, and occasionally morphologic variants are not genetically differentiated.…”

Entomological Indices, Feeding Sources, and Molecular Identification of Triatoma phyllosoma (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) One of the Main Vectors of Chagas Disease in the Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

“…7,8,31,[49][50][51] In this work, we used ITS-2 and CytB for the identification of both nymphs and adults. In our analysis, all individuals were assigned to the T. phyllosoma clade.…”

Community Participation and Domiciliary Occurrence of Infected Meccus longipennis in Two Mexican Villages in Jalisco State

“…Furthermore, regarding the Meccus species complex, which includes Meccus longipennis, the species involved in the current study, controversy exists regarding their taxonomic status as species or subspecies because of their close genetic relationships. 17,18 The basic assumption of this work is that a better understanding of Chagas disease in Mexico should consider the zooanthroponotic systems (reservoir-vector-human), which occur in shared spaces. As analyses of entomological features on the community scale are undoubtedly primary to evaluate transmission risk, two rural communities in western Mexico, Los Guerrero (Jalisco) and Cacalután (Nayarit), were studied.…”