Taxonomia comparada, filogeografia e dinâmica populacional de >i<Dichelops furcatus>/i< (Fabricius) e >i<Dichelops melacanthus>/i< (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae): uma abordagem integrativa

Abstract

Comparative taxonomy, phylogeography and population dynamics of Dichelops furcatus and Dichelops melacanthus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae): an integrative approach The green-belly stink bugs Dichelops spp. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) are considered emergent pests in different cultivated plants in Brazil. Dichelops furcatus (Fabricius) and Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) are morphologically similar, and the morphological characteristics are variable within the species, sometimes overlapping between them, bringing into question the species delimitation. Based on wide sampling throughout the whole distribution of Dichelops spp., the goals of this study were: 1) to study the morphological diversity of D. furcatus e D. melacanthus using both traditional and geometric morphometrics, and 2) define tools for the species identification recognized from quantitative morphological data; 3) to study the genetic diversity, population structuring, and the geographical distribution pattern of D. furcatus and D. melacanthus populations in Brazil using molecular data. For that, digital photographs of the main morphological structures (head, pronotum and scutellum) were taken and statistical analysis of traditional and geometric morphometrics were made. DNA from individuals of both species from different populations of Brazil was extracted, and two mitochondrial genes (COI and 16s) were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Results from geometric morphometrics show that shape of pronotum, head and scutellum were strongly overlapping between species, making this method inefficient in separating D. furcatus from D. melacanthus. However, traditional morphometrics was efficient in separating the species. Results showed high genetic diversity and high genetic structuring between populations of both species, supporting the existance of two lineages for D. furcatus and two lineages for D. melacanthus.