PLoS ONE (2019) 14 (2 - e0211285)

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Juliana Damieli Nascimento, João Aristeu da Rosa, Fabian C. Salgado-Roa, Carolina Hernández, Carolina Pardo-Diaz, Kaio Cesar Chaboli Alevi, Amanda Ravazi, Jader de Oliveira, Maria Tercília Vilela de Azeredo Oliveira, Camilo Salazar and Juan David Ramírez (2019)
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?
PLoS ONE 14 (2 - e0211285)
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.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: English)
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Database assignments for author(s): Jader Oliveira

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy


Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial Pest/Disease/Weed Crop/Product Country Quarant.


Rhodnius prolixus Colombia
Rhodnius neglectus Brazil (south)