Inferences about antennal phenotype: the "Triatoma maculata complex" (Hemiptera: Triatominae) is valid?

Abstract

The "Triatoma maculata complex" is presently formed by two epidemiologically important species of Triatominae, Triatoma maculata and Triatoma pseudomaculata, which share morphologic and chromatic characteristics. In order to clarify the systematic status and infer the evolutionary relationships of these vectors of Chagas disease, we performed a comparative analysis of their antennal phenotype, taking also into account Triatoma wygodzinskyi, a possible sister species. The comparison was based on sensilla arrays on the three distal segments of the antenna. Our results show a close similarity between T. pseudomaculata and T. wygodzinskyi antennal phenotypes, and significant differences with T. maculata. The inter-population study reinforces the idea that T. pseudomaculata (arboricolous species) and T. wygodzinskyi (rupicolous species) would originate from a common ancestor.