PHYLOGENY OF SPECIES OF TRIATOMA (HEMIPTERA, REDUVIIDAE) BASED ON MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA SEQUENCES

DNA sequence comparisons of 12S, 16S, and COI mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA ) genes were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among 8 species of Triatoma [7 belonging to the infestans complex and T. circummaculat a (Stal), a member of a different complex based on morphology]. There was remarkable mtDNA similarity between T. infestans (Klug) and T. pla tensis Neiva that can be explained by mtDNA introgression. Evolutionar y trees were constructed using Panstrongulus megistus (Burmeister) as the outgroup. This outgroup gave evidence that the root of the group w ould be between T. vitticeps (Stal) and the rest of the species. The p lacement of T. circummaculata into the middle of the infestans complex is not consistent with the morphological classification, suggesting t hat the current systematics of this group does not reflect phylogeneti c affinities.