Contents

1 Origin and evolution of Triatominae

1.1 Background

1.2 Searching for the closest predatory relative of Triatominae

1.3 Evolutionary relationships within Triatominae

1.4 Relationships within Rhodniini

1.5 Relationships within Triatomini

References

2 Taxonomy

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Historical background

2.3.1 The beginning

2.3.2 Contributions to a taxonomy non-strictly morphologic

2.4 Classification

2.4.1 Hemiptera-Heteroptera (truebugs)

2.4.2 Reduviidae Latreille, 1807 (assassin bugs)

2.4.3 Triatominae Jeannel, 1919 (kissing bugs; cone-nose bugs)

2.4.4 Tribes and genera

2.4.4.1 Triatomini Jeannel, 1919 (the most speciose tribe)

2.4.4.3 Bolboderini Usinger, 1944 (small genera)

2.4.4.4 Cavernicolini Usinger, 1944 (small triatomines, cave specialized)

2.5 Conclusions

3 Speciation Processes in Triatominae

3.1 Towards a unified species concept

3.2 Insect diversity and speciation

3.3 Overconservative systematics and the paraphyly of Triatoma

3.4 Phenotypic plasticity and classical taxonomy

3.5 Tempo and mode of triatomine speciation

3.5.1 Fast or slow diversification?

3.5.1.1 Triatoma rubrofasciata and Old World Triatominae

3.5.1.2 The origin of Rhodnius prolixus

3.5.2 Vicariance and allopatric triatomine speciation

3.5.2.1 Rhodnius robustus and the Refugium theory

3.5.2.2 Triatoma rubida and the Baja California peninsula

3.5.2.3 Triatoma dimidiata and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

3.5.3 Parapatric/sympatric triatomine speciation

3.5.3.1 Triatoma brasiliensis complex and the homoploid hybridization hypothesis

3.5.3.2 The Rhodnius pallescens - R. colombiensis: a case of sympatric speciation?

3.6 Towards an integrative and evolutionarily sound taxonomy

4 Chromosome structure and evolution of Triatominae: A review

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Chromosome numbers in Triatominae

4.3 Sex chromosome systems

4.5 Genome size in triatomines

4.6 Cytogenetic studies of hybrids

4.7 Longitudinal differentiation of triatomine chromosomes

4. 7.3 Chromosomal location of ribosomal genes by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

4.7.4 Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and DNA probes

4.7.6. X chromosome in Triatominae

4.8. Perspectives and Challenges

5.1 General observations of insect development

5.3 Historical role of R. prolixus embryonic development studies

5.4 Recent advances in the studies of R. prolixus embryonic development

5.5 Future directions of R. prolixus embryogenesis research

References

6 Anatomy of the nervous system of triatomines

6.1 Introduction

6.2 The nervous system of triatomines

6.2.1 General morphology

6.2.2 The Brain

6.2.2.1 Protocere
About the Author:

Alessandra Guarneri, Ph.D., is a biologist and specialist in Medical Entomology. She is a researcher in the Vector Behavior and Pathogen Interaction Group at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Her research team is devoted to the study the behavior of triatomines and the interaction between these bugs and their natural parasites. Her work includes studies about parasite development and virulence, behavioral alterations in infected insects, as well as the molecular bases of the trypanosome-triatomine interaction.

Marcelo G Lorenzo, Ph.D., is a biologist devoted to the study of insect physiology with an emphasis on behavioral physiology. He is a senior researcher in the Vector Behavior and Pathogen Interaction Group at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. There, his group investigates the behavior, pheromones, kairomones, sensory physiology, and functional genomics of triatomines and culicids. The group also focuses on the development of baits and traps for vector control. His work takes advantage of techniques from neurobiology, analytical chemistry, molecular biology, genomics, and behavior.