Mitochondrial DNA sequences of triatomines (Hemiptera : Reduviidae): Phylogenetic relationships

The phylogenetic relationships among 18 species of Triatominae were inferre d based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. The species of Triatoma inc luded 11 belonging to the infestans complex [T. infestans (Klug), T guasaya na Wygodzinsky & Abalos, T sordida (Stal), T. platensis Neiva, T brasiliens is Neiva, T rubrovaria (Blanchard), T vitticeps (Still), T. delpontei Roman a & Abalos, T, maculata (Erichson), T. patagonica Del Ponte, and T. matogro ssensis Leite & Barbosa] and four others of the same genus but of different complexes [T circummaculata (Stal), T protracta (Uhler), T dimidiata (Latr eille), and T. mazzoatii Usinger]. As possible outgroups we used Mepraia.sp inolai Mazza, Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister), and Rhodnius prolixus St al. We analyzed mtDNA fragments of the 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA genes from each of the 18 species, as well as of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene from nine. The 12S, 16S, and COI gene sequences were analyzed individually and combined. All of the phylogenetic analyses unambiguously supported two clusters: one including T. infestans, T platensis, and T. delpontei, and th e other T. sordida and T matogrossensis. Inclusion of T. circummaculata int o the infestans complex was confirmed, although this is in disagreement wit h the morphological classification. On the other hand, our analyses showed that T dimidiata is closely related to a phyllosoma complex species, T. maz zottii. This is consistent with the tentative classification previously mad e based on morphological characters. The issue of the monophyly of the genu s Triatoma remains unresolved.