Article
Comparative Study of the Antennal Phenotype in Species of the Belminus (Hemiptera: Triatominae) Genus Using Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy
Registro en:
RAMÍREZ, Claudia Magaly Sandoval et al. Comparative Study of the Antennal Phenotype in Species of the Belminus (Hemiptera: Triatominae) Genus Using Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Journal of Medical Entomology, v. XX, n. X, p. 1-10, 2019.
0022-2585
10.1093/jme/tjz053
1938-2928
Autor
Ramirez, Claudia Magaly Sandoval
Blanco, Elsa Nieves
Adarme, Lida Esteban
Silva, Víctor M. Angulo
Otálora-Luna, Fernando
Galvão, Cleber
Catalá, Silvia
Resumen
The genus Belminus Stål, 1859 is distinguished by markedly entomophagous species. This genus is a poorly studied group of the Triatominae (Jeannel, 1919), which includes hematophagous species that are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909), the etiological agent of Chagas disease. This study reports for the first time the description of the antennal sensilla of Belminus corredori (Galvão & Angulo, 2003), Belminus herreri (Lent & Wygodzinsky, 1979), and Belminus ferroae (Sandoval, Pabón, Jurberg & Galvão, 2007) nymphs and adults throughout scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. Nine morphological types of sensilla were identified in the three species, including bristles I and II, trichobothria, tapered hairs, thin-walled trichoid, thickwalled trichoid, basiconic, campaniform, and coeloconica sensilla. The analysis of the most abundant types of sensilla and their distribution in nymphs and adults shows similarities with the antennal phenotypes described in other Triatominae. Quantitative differences showed the important phenotypic plasticity of this morphological trait in the genus and allowed for the separation of the species in both sexes. These differences were associated with sexual dimorphism and wing condition (macropterous and brachypterous). The role of the antennal phenotype in sexual behavior, its usefulness as a taxonomic tool, and its relationship with the dispersal capacity of these species are discussed. 2022-01-01