Phylogenetic relationships within the oliveirai complex (Hemiptera:Reduviidae:Triatominae)

Abstract

The oliveirai complex is actually composed of nine related species of Triatominae that occur in the Pantanal ecosystem of Mato Grosso, Brazil. In order to confirm their specific status and infer their phylogenetic relationships, we performed a genetic and morphometric comparison concerning seven of the nine species of the complex. Isoenzyme analysis provided broadly similar phylogenetic information to that derived from discriminant analysis of size-free variables. The derived trees reveal two main species groups, one composed of three closed species (T. jurbergi, T. matogrossensis and T. vandae), and another one subdivided into two different pairs, the T. guazu-T. williami pair and the T. klugi-T. oliveirai pair. The results call the specific status of T. guazu and T. williami into question, support the possibility that the other analyzed species represent distinct taxa and query the existence of the oliveirai complex.