Tests of conspecificity for closely related black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) species of the Simulium striatum group in Thailand

Abstract

Four black fly species of the Simulium striatum species group have been recorded in Thailand. These species are morphologically highly similar in all developmental stages except for the number and arrangement of the pupal gill filaments. In this study, we used multiple characters sources, including morphology, cytology, molecular biology and ecology, to test the hypothesis of conspecificity for S. quinquestriatum (Shiraki), S. nakhonense Takaoka & Suzuki and S. chiangmaiense Takaoka & Suzuki. A molecular study based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was unable to separate these taxa. In contrast, the elongation complex protein 1 (ECP1) sequences clearly differentiate S. quinquestriatum from S. chiangmaiense and S. nakhonense. However, the latter two taxa could not be differentiated based on molecular DNA sequences. Simulium chiangmaiense and S. nakhonense are also similar in the larval habitat characteristics and have undifferentiated polytene chromosome banding patterns. Morphological examination of the number and arrangement of the pupal gill filaments found a number of intermediate forms. Therefore, S. chiangmaiense and S. nakhonense are apparently the same biological species that is polymorphic for the number and arrangement of gill filaments. Thus, we synonymized S. chiangmaiense with S. nakhonense.

DNA barcoding of British mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) to support species identification, discovery of cryptic genetic diversity and monitoring invasive species

“…For all other species, the variation in intra- and interspecific genetic values reported in this study fall within the range for DNA barcoding studies of European mosquitoes (Engdahl et al 2014, Gunay et al 2015, Versteirt et al 2015) or other zoogeographical regions such as the Nearctic and Oriental Regions (Cywinska et al 2006, Kumar et al 2007, Murugan et al 2016). Nonetheless, we advocate the combination of the COI DNA barcoding with other genetic markers such as the Elongator Complex Protein 1 gene ( ECP1 ) (Low et al 2016, Pangjanda and Pramual 2016, Senatore et al 2014) and ITS-2 sequences from a larger number of specimens across the species distribution range in order to resolve some of the taxonomic problems highlighted in this study.…”

From bites to barcodes: uncovering the hidden diversity of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Vietnam

“…), suggesting that the genetic divergence for this marker might be insufficient to differentiate these closely related, morphologically similar species despite its value in previous studies [ 35 , 36 , 38 , 39 ]. BZF and ECP1 genes have limited ability to discriminate Nearctic members of the Simulium fibrinflatum and S. taxodium subgroups in the S. jenningsi species group and Thai members of the S. striatum species group, respectively [ 37 , 75 ]. The resolving power of the ECP1 gene for Vietnamese members of the S. asakoae species group has yet to be evaluated, as the samples from this study were not successfully amplified by the primer pair from [ 21 ].…”

Chromosomes as Barcodes: Discovery of a New Species of Black Fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) from California, USA

“…Molecular tools have not been brought to bear on homosequential cryptic species in the Simuliidae. Most challenging are putative species that do not differ in their chromosomes, COI barcodes, or morphology [ 42 ] but that might have other genic differences or show developmental, ecological, or behavioral incongruencies.…”