Biological and genetic aspects of crosses between species of the genus Meccus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae Triatominae)

Abstract

The degree of reproductive isolation between Meccus phyllosomus and the remaining five species of the genus Meccus, as well as between Meccus bassolsae and Meccus pallidipennis, Meccus longipennis and Meccus picturatus, was examined. Fertility and the segregation of morphological characteristics were examined in two generations of hybrids from crosses between these species. The percentage of couples with offspring (fertile) was high in the vast majority of sets of crosses, with the exception of that between ♀M. phyllosomus and ♂Meccus mazzottii. In sets of crosses involving M. bassolsae specimens, no first-generation (F1) individuals were morphologically similar to M. bassolsae, but instead shared the morphology of the other parental species. A similar phenomenon was observed in most sets of crosses involving M. phyllosomus. These results indicated that different degrees of reproductive isolation exist among the species of Meccus involved in this study. The biological evidence obtained in this study does not support the proposal that M. bassolsae is a full species. It could indicate that, on the contrary, it should be considered a subspecies of a single polytypic species. The biological evidence does support the proposal that M. phyllosomus is a full species

Genetic, Cytogenetic and Morphological Trends in the Evolution of the Rhodnius (Triatominae: Rhodniini) Trans-Andean Group

“…Crosses between R. pallescens lineage I (males) and R. colombiensis (females) overcome pre-zygotic barriers but produce infertile F1 hybrids (post-zygotic reproductive barrier). Sterility was associated with failures in chromosome pairing during meiosis (Figure 4) that led to the production of unbalanced gametes as observed in other interspecific triatomine hybrids [58], [59]. The observed isolation mechanisms explain the lack of natural hybrids although both species are sympatric in the inter Andean valley of Magdalena River and occupy the same sylvatic ecotope ( A. butyracea palm trees).…”

“…Hybridization studies have been implemented in several species of the Triatoma and Meccus genera (for review see [57]–[59]. The present study constitutes the first cytogenetic analysis of experimental hybrids among Rhodnius species.…”

Reproductive isolation revealed in preliminary crossbreeding experiments using field collected Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from three ITS-2 defined groups

“…Experimental crosses have been done to determine isolating mechanisms that limit gene flow between species and to elucidate the taxonomic status among putative cryptic species or morphological subspecies in several triatomine groups, such as in Brasiliensis (Costa et al, 2003; 2009), Phyllosoma (Martínez–Ibarra et al, 2009; 2011), and in Infestans subcomplexes (Pérez et al, 2005). …”

Importance of Hybrids of <i>Meccus phyllosomus mazzottii</i>, and <i>M. p. pallidipennis</i>, and <i>M. p. phyllosomus</i> to the Transmission of <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> in Mexico

“…Meccus mazzottii (Usinger) is distributed in 2 states in southern Mexico, M. pallidipennis is distributed in 9 states throughout western, central, and southern Mexico (6,7), and M. phyllosomus (Burmeister) is currently found in only 1 state in southern Mexico where it is considered an important vector (1,6). Meccus phyllosomus mazzottii, M. p. pallidipennis, and M. p. phyllosomus have interbred with each other under laboratory conditions, and fertile hybrids have been obtained (8,9). In addition, these 3 species are sympatric and have been repeatedly collected from the some stone and wooden fences, stacks of firewood, and brick and cement houses (7,10,11) in the southern states of Oaxaca and Guerrero (Fig.…”

“…However, 37 years later, Lent and Wygodzinsky (13) reinstated their status as bona fide species, based entirely on morphological characters. The debate continued, and recent biological, morphological, and molecular evidence (3,4,9,(14)(15)(16) lead to them being considered subspecies again, based on the concept that`s ubspecies are local populations that are recognizably different from each other but they are nevertheless considered to belong to the same species because they are observed to interbreed in nature or because it is inferred that they are likely to interbreed'' (17). Consequently, M. mazzottii, M. pallidipennis, and M. phyllosomus will be considered subspecies of M. phyllosomus during this study.…”