Unraveling the cryptic speciation process of Triatoma vitticeps (Stal, 1859) (Hemiptera, Triatominae) through integrative taxonomy

• Grant number: 20/07917-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal Investigator: Kaio Cesar Chaboli Alevi
• Grantee: Isabella da Silva Masarin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Triatoma vitticeps is a species of triatomine endemic to Brazil, distributed in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. High intraspecific genetic distance between T. vitticeps from different locations led to the hypothesis that the phenomenon of cryptic speciation (genetically distinct species, but morphologically identical) is present in this species and, mainly, that what today is identified as T. vitticeps, possibly , represent one or more distinct taxa. Considering that integrative taxonomy is an important tool for species characterization, since it aggregates different analyzes to assess the specific status of a taxon, the present project aims to assess the specific status of T. vitticeps, through analysis morphological (by scanning microscopy), phylogenetic (with the nuclear gene ITS-1 and mitochondrial Cyt B), experimental crosses (focusing on pre and/or post-zygotic reproductive barriers) and cytogenetics (assessing the degree of compatibility between homeologous chromosomes of the hybrids), with emphasis on the phenomenon of cryptic speciation and on the characterization of the new taxon (s).

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CHABOLI ALEVI, KAIO CESAR; DE OLIVEIRA, JADER; CANIS GARCIA, ARIANE CRISTINA; CRISTAL, DANIEL CESARETTO; GRZYB DELGADO, LUIZA MARIA; BITTINELLI, ISADORA DE FREITAS; DOS REIS, YAGO VISINHO; RAVAZI, AMANDA; BORTOLOZO DE OLIVEIRA, ANA BEATRIZ; GALVAO, CLEBER; et al. Triatoma rosai sp. nov. (Hemiptera, Triatominae): A New Species of Argentinian Chagas Disease Vector Described Based on Integrative Taxonomy. INSECTS, v. 11, n. 12, DEC 2020. (18/12039-2, 17/05015-7, 18/24116-1, 20/07917-0)