Mitochondrial DNA variation of Triatoma infestans populations and its implication on the specific status of T. melanosoma

DNA sequence comparison of 412 base-pairs fragments of the mitochondrial cy tochrome B gene was used to infer the genetic structure of nine geographica l Triatoma infestans populations and their phylogenetic relationship with T . melanosoma and T. brasiliensis. T. infestans and T. melanosoma were compa red by morphometry, allozyme and cytogenetic analyses, as well as subjected to reciprocal crosses, in order to clarify the taxonomic status of the lat ter No differences were found to distinguish the two species and the crosse s between them yielded progeny. T infestans populations presented four haplotypes that could be separated i n two clusters: one formed by the samples from Bolivia (Andes and Chaco) an d the other formed by samples from Argentina and Brazil. Silvatic and domes tic T. infestans populations from Bolivia (Andes) were genetically identica l.