New record and cytogenetic analysis of Psammolestes tertius Lent & Jurberg, 1965 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) from Bahia State, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This paper reports on the first occurrence of Psammolestes tertius in the Chapada Diamantina region, located in the city of Seabra, Bahia State, in northeastern Brazil. Following an active search, 24 P. tertius specimens were collected from Phacellodomus rufifrons (rufousfronted thornbird) nests. The insects did not present any symptoms of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. P. tertius males were cytogenetically analyzed, and the results were compared with those of other specimens from the Brazilian State of Ceará. Triatomines from both locations presented the same cytogenetic characteristics: 22 chromosomes, little variation in the size of the autosomes, Y chromosomes that were larger than the X chromosomes, a chromocenter formed only by the sex chromosomes during prophase, and autosomes lacking constitutive heterochromatin. However, it is important to note that this species shows intraspecific chromosomal variation. In light of the results obtained, it is recommended that more studies be performed to characterize P. tertius. These studies will be particularly helpful in understanding this species in ecological, biological, biogeographical, and phylogenetic terms.

First report of Psammolestes tertius Lent & Jurberg, 1965 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil

“…In a comparison using RAPD markers of 2 different populations of P. tertius from Ceará and Minas Gerais states and associated with different species of birds (Furnariidae), Soares et al (2001) demonstrated intraspecific variability, which was probably related to differences in the characteristics of the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes. However, this variability was not corroborated by Oliveira et al (2016) in a study that compared 2 populations, from Bahia and Ceará states, by means of cytogenetics.…”

Psammolestes tertius Lent & Jurberg, 1965 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae): first report in Sergipe State, Brazil

“…The use of different RAPD markers has demonstrated intraspecific variability, possibly related to environmental changes characteristic of Caatinga and Cerrado 16 . However, this variability was not corroborated by a cytogenetic comparison of two populations (Bahia and Ceará) carried out by Oliveira et al 6 .…”

“…Despite the genus Psammolestes having a close association with birds, they are not the only source of food for these triatomines in nature. For other groups, for example mammals, have already been found inhabiting the nests of birds 6 , 7 .…”

“…Psammolestes tertius is distributed in all geographic regions of Brazil: the Southeast (Minas Gerais and São Paulo), Midwest (Goiás and Mato Grosso), North (Pará and Tocantins), Northeast (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, and Rio Grande do Norte), and South (Paraná), and in Peru (San Martín) 6 , 8 , 14 , 15 . The comparison of two different populations of P. tertius showed associations with different species of Furnariidae birds from the states of Ceará and Minas Gerais.…”

New Evidence of the Monophyletic Relationship of the Genus Psammolestes Bergroth, 1911 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

“…In addition, a more recent cytogenetic study comparing P. tertius of different Brazilian states (Bahia and Ceará) was performed and showed the absence of intraspecific chromosome variation. 14 The present work seeks to characterize the karyotype evolution and the chromatin composition of the species of the genus Psammolestes, with the aim of contributing to the genetic and evolutionary knowledge of these potential vectors.…”