Revisiting the Hybridization Processes in the Triatoma brasiliensis Complex (Hemiptera, Triatominae): Reproductive Isolation between Triatoma petrocchiae and T. b. brasiliensis and T. lenti

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Although all triatomines are potential vectors of Chagas disease, there are species with greater or lesser vectorial importance. Therefore, the correct identification of triatomine species is essential for vector control programs. In general, triatomines are identified by external morphological characters. However, some species are very similar or even morphologically identical, making the use of complementary analyses for the correct identification of species important. For this reason, this study focused on the use of experimental crosses to assess the specific status of species of the Triatoma brasiliensis species complex. The crosses did not result in hybrids, demonstrating that there are pre-zygotic reproductive barriers installed between T. petrocchiae and the other species of the T. brasiliensis complex (which confirms the specific status of the species according to the biological species concept). On the basis of the results above, we demonstrated that T. petrocchiae is reproductively isolated from T. b. brasiliensis and T. lenti. Furthermore, we suggest that T. petrocchiae is the species most derived from the T. brasiliensis complex. ABSTRACT: Triatoma petrocchiae is a species morphologically similar to T. b. brasiliensis (which resulted in a synonymization event); despite this similarity, genetic, morphological, and experimental crossbreeding studies confirmed the specific status of T. petrocchiae. Considering that both species have been reported living in sympatry and that, for a long time, most species of the T. brasiliensis complex were considered only chromatic variants of T. b. brasiliensis, we carried out experimental crosses between T. b. brasiliensis and T. petrocchiae (to confirm whether these species are reproductively isolated) and between T. lenti and T. petrocchiae (to assess whether T. petrocchiae also presents prezygotic isolation with the other species of the T. brasiliensis complex). Reciprocal experimental crosses were conducted, and weekly, the eggs were collected, counted, and separated in new containers to assess the hatch rate. Neither cross resulted in hybrids, demonstrating that there are pre-zygotic reproductive barriers installed between T. petrocchiae and the other species of the T. brasiliensis complex. On the basis of the results above, we demonstrated that T. petrocchiae is reproductively isolated from T. b. brasiliensis and T. lenti. Furthermore, we suggest that T. petrocchiae is the species most derived from the T. brasiliensis complex.