Distribution of constitutive heterochromatin in Triatoma melanocephala (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

Abstract

In principle, Triatoma melanocephala was included in the Brasiliensis subcomplex on the basis of morphological parameters and geographical layout, since there were no other relevant data available in the literature. On the basis of karyotype, it has been proposed to exclude T. melanocephala, as well as of T. vitticeps and T. tibiamaculata, from the subcomplex, which shows fragmentation of the X sex chromosomes, thereby approaching the species of North America. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the pattern of constitutive heterochromatin of T. melanocephala to provide new data on the cytotaxonomy of this vector of Chagas disease and especially to try to relate this species to some group, complex or subcomplex of triatomine species, aiding in their classification. This species showed no constitutive heterochromatin in the autosomes or X sex chromosome, but only the Y sex chromosome. The number of chromosomes and heterochromatin pattern of T. melanocephala proved to be identical to that described for Panstrongylus lutzi. Thus, the present study demonstrated a tentative relationship between T. melanocephala and P. lutzi. However, we emphasize that other comparative studies should be conducted between these species, such as experimental crosses and molecular, enzymatic, morphological, and morphometric analyses to determine whether these species are actually evolutionarily related or if the number of chromosomes and the heterochromatin pattern emerged as homoplasies in T. melanocephala and P. lutzi.