Taxonomical over splitting in the Rhodnius prolixus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae) clade: Are R. taquarussuensis (da Rosa et al., 2017) and R. neglectus (Lent, 1954) the same species?

Abstract

The use of subtle features as species diagnostic traits in taxa with high morphological similarity sometimes fails in discriminating intraspecific variation from interspecific differences, leading to an incorrect species delimitation. A clear assessment of species boundaries is particularly relevant in disease vector organisms in order to understand epidemiological and evolutionary processes that affect transmission capacity. Here, we assess the validity of the recently described Rhodnius taquarussuensis (da Rosa et al., 2017) using interspecific crosses and molecular markers. We did not detect differences in hatching rates in interspecific crosses between R. taquarussuensis and R. neglectus (Lent, 1954). Furthermore, genetic divergence and species delimitation analyses show that R. taquarussuensis is not an independent lineage in the R. prolixus group. These results suggest that R. taquarussuensis is a phenotypic form of R. neglectus instead of a distinct species. We would like to stress that different sources of evidence are needed to correctly delimit species. We consider this is an important step in understanding vectorial Chagas disease spread and transmission.

Genome-wide locus sequence typing (GLST) of eukaryotic pathogens

“…DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen) was used to extract metagenomic DNA. Infected intestinal material of Panstrongylus geniculatus , R. pallescens and R. prolixus from northern Colombia was also collected in previous projects 34–36 , likewise using DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit to extract metagenomic DNA. Panstrongylus geniculatus specimens from Caracas, Venezuela were collected by the citizen science triatomine collection program (http://www.chipo.chagas.ucv.ve/vista/index.php) at Universidad Central de Venezuela.…”

Novel repellents for the blood-sucking insects Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma infestans, vectors of Chagas disease

“…Triatomine bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) feed on the blood of vertebrates and are vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis [6]. The vast majority of the extant 149 species of triatomines are found in Latin American countries, where 68 triatomine species have been found infected with T. cruzi, and more than 150 species of domestic and wild mammals have been found to carry the parasite [7][8][9][10][11][12]. However, few triatomine species are recognized as competent vectors, and only approximately five species are considered very important vectors for humans: Rhodnius prolixus Stål, 1859 (inhabiting mainly Colombia and Venezuela), Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834) (inhabiting mainly Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina), T. dimidiata (Latreille, 1811) (inhabiting Mexico and Central America), T. brasiliensis Neiva, 1911 and Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister, 1835) (both found mainly in Brazil) [8,13].…”

Triatoma brasiliensis species complex: characterization of the external female genitalia

“…However, taxonomic changes have occurred since then, such as descriptions of new species and redescriptions and/or revalidations of others (de Oliveira and Alevi 2017). Thus, there are currently 154 species, including151 extant and three fossil species ( T. dominicana , P. hispaniolae, and Paleotriatoma metaxytaxa ) distributed in 19 genera and grouped into five tribes, taking into account that the Linschosteini tribe has been currently included in Triatomini (Justi et al 2018, Lima‐Cordón et al 2019, Nascimento et al 2019, Poinar 2019). As the evolutionary processes of the triatomines seem to be disruptive (Dujardin et al 2009) and some groups present morphological similarity for the specific diagnosis of the taxa, techniques with a high degree of resolution are necessary to evaluate the specific status and the phylogenetic/morphological relationships (Barretto and Albuquerque 1969, Schofield 1988, Carcavallo et al 2001, Jurberg 2003, de la Fuente et al 2011).…”