Inferences about antennal phenotype: the "Triatoma maculata complex" (Hemiptera: Triatominae) is valid?

Abstract The “ Triatoma maculata complex” is presently formed by two epidemiologically important species of Triatominae, Triatoma maculata and Triatoma pseudomaculata , which share morphologic and chromatic characteristics. In order to clarify the systematic status and infer the evolutionary relationships of these vectors of Chagas disease, we performed a comparative analysis of their antennal phenotype, taking also into account Triatoma wygodzinskyi , a possible sister species. The comparison was based on sensilla arrays on the three distal segments of the antenna. Our results show a close similarity between T. pseudomaculata and T. wygodzinskyi antennal phenotypes, and significant differences with T. maculata . The inter-population study reinforces the idea that T. pseudomaculata (arboricolous species) and T. wygodzinskyi (rupicolous species) would originate from a common ancestor.