Fauna Triatomínica Do Estado Do Amazonas: Espécies E Distribuição Geográfica

Abstract

The Rhodniini tribe is composed of the genera Rhodnius and Psammolestes. From phylogenetic data, Rhodnius spp. were grouped into three large groups (pallescens, pictipes and prolixus). This genus is considered paraphyletic, since species in the prolixus group are evolutionarily closer to Psammolestes spp. than of the Rhodnius groups. Based on the above, we present a chronological mini-review related to the main phylogenetic and molecular taxonomy studies carried out in the genus Rhodnius. From the data presented, it is clear that: i. the Rhodniini tribe is a monophyletic group; ii. there are three well-defined monophyletic groups in the tribe Rhodniini (prolixus, pictipes and pallescens); iii. the evolutionary relationship between these groups needs to be better defined by phylogenetic studies combining different markers and, above all, increasing intra and interspecific sampling of the genus Rhodnius (with emphasis on species that have never been studied molecularly); iv. the genus Rhodnius is a paraphyletic group in relation to Psammolestes; v. the specific status of some Rhodnius species (such as R. milesi and R. zeledoni) needs to be assessed by integrative taxonomy; vi. paraphyletic lineages of R. robustus need to be described as new species; viii. the strains of R. ecuadoriensis and R. pallescens, as well as Rhodnius aff. R. pictipes from Sierra Nevada, Colombia needs to be studied by integrative taxonomy and described as new species; and, finally, viii. phylogenetic systematics is essential for the taxonomy of Rhodnius.