Journal of Medical Entomology (2011) 48, 705-707

J.A. Martínez-Ibarra, Y. Grant-Guillén, I.N. Delgadillo-Aceves, F.A. Zumaya-Estrada, G. Rocha-Chávez, P.M. Salazar-Schettino, R. Alejandre-Aguilar, G. Villalobos and B. Nogueda-Torres (2011)
Biological and genetic aspects of crosses between phylogenetically close species of Mexican triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Journal of Medical Entomology 48 (3), 705-707
Abstract: Reproductive isolation between Triatoma mexicana (Herrich-Scaeffer) and the six species of the Phyllosoma complex, belonging to the genus Meccus, was examined by analyzing the fertility of experimental hybrids. The percentage of couples with offspring was highest in the set of crosses between Meccus phyllosomus (Burmeister) and T. mexicana, and lowest in those between Meccus pallidipennis (Stål) and Meccus bassolsae (Alejandre-Aguilar, Nogueda-Torres, Cortés-Jimé nez, Jurberg, Galvão, and Carcavallo) with respect to T. mexicana. Crosses between Meccus mazzottii (Usinger), Meccus picturatus (Usinger), and Meccus longipennis (Usinger) and T. mexicana had scarce offspring, whereas offspring from crosses between M. phyllosomus and T. mexicana were abundant. However, all F₁ nymphs died in different instars before reaching sexual maturity. The biological evidence in this study suggests that different degrees of reproductive isolation exist between T. mexicana and the different species of Meccus. Our data also support the current status of T. mexicana as a separate species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): José Alejandro Martínez-Ibarra, Paz M. Salazar-Schettino

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Meccus pallidipennis		Mexico
	Meccus mazzottii		Mexico
	Meccus longipennis		Mexico
	Triatoma mexicana		Mexico
	Meccus phyllosomus		Mexico
	Meccus bassolsae		Mexico