Research Article |
Corresponding author: João Aristeu da Rosa ( rosaja@fcfar.unesp.br ) Academic editor: Guanyang Zhang
© 2016 Eder dos Santos Souza, Noé Carlos Barbosa Von Atzingen, Maria Betânia Furtado, Jader de Oliveira, Juliana Damieli Nascimento, Daniel Pagotto Vendrami, Sueli Gardim, João Aristeu da Rosa.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Souza ES, Von Atzingen NCB, Furtado MB, Oliveira J, Nascimento JD, Vendrami DP, Gardim S, Rosa JA (2016) Description of Rhodnius marabaensis sp. n. (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) from Pará State, Brazil. ZooKeys 621: 45-62. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.621.9662
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Rhodnius marabaensis sp. n. was collected on 12 May 2014 in the Murumurú Environmental Reserve in the city of Marabá, Pará State, Brazil. This study was based on previous consultation of morphological descriptions of 19 Rhodnius species and compared to the identification key for the genus Rhodnius. The examination included specimens from 18 Rhodnius species held in the Brazilian National and International Triatomine Taxonomy Reference Laboratory in the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The morphological characteristics of the head, thorax, abdomen, genitalia, and eggs have been determined. Rhodnius prolixus and R. robustus were examined in more detail because the BLAST analysis of a cyt-b sequence shows they are closely related to the new species, which also occurs in the northern region of Brazil. The most notable morphological features that distinguish R. marabaensis sp. n. are the keel-shaped apex of the head, the length of the second segment of the antennae, the shapes of the prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum, the set of spots on the abdomen, the male genitalia, the posterior and ventral surfaces of the external female genitalia, and the morphological characteristics of the eggs. Rhodnius jacundaensis Serra, Serra & Von Atzingen (1980) nomen nudum specimens deposited at the Maraba Cultural Center Foundation - MCCF were examined and considered as a synonym of R. marabaensis sp. n.
Triatominae , Rhodnius marabaensis sp. n., new species, Amazon
Vectors of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, include 151 species distributed into 18 genera belonging to the subfamily Triatominae (Galvão 2014,
Among the Rhodnius species, only nine are found in the northern region of Brazil: R. amazonicus, R. brethesi, R. milesi, R. montenegrensis, R. neglectus, R. paraensis, R. pictipes, R. robustus, and R. stali (Galvão 2014, Meneguetti et al. 2015).
In May 2014, two Rhodnius spp. specimens were collected in Marabá, Pará, Brazil, and compared to the key described by
The specific description was based on the observation of two adult specimens (one female and one male) collected in a residence in the Murumuru Environmental Reserve in the city of Marabá, Pará, Brazil (coordinates: 10°10'05.1"S and 63°24'09.1"W) (Fig.
The identification of samples was performed using the dichotomous key by
After the identification, the mitochondrial gene fragment cytochrome b (cyt-b) was amplified by using suggested primers by
For the comparative morphological study, R. prolixus specimens from Araraquara
Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to compare the morphology of R. marabaensis sp. n., R. prolixus, and R. robustus. The head, the ventral portion of the thorax, the scutellum, and the pygophore were studied using SEM (Figs
Escutellum and process of I urotergit of R. marabaensis sp. n. (A), R. prolixus (B), R. robustus (C). pr: pronotum; sc: escutelum; sb: semi- circular base; sg: glabrous space; cd: central depression; le: lateral edge; ap: apex of escutelum; pu: process of I urotergit; tg: transverse groove; fr: fringe.
Phallus of R. marabaensis sp. n. (A dorsal view B ventral view C lateral view) and R. robustus (D dorsal view E ventral view F lateral view). Cj: conjunctive; En: endosome; EPlb: median extencion of basal plate; P: phallus; Plb: basal plate; PrG: gonopore process; PrPh: phallossoma process; Ph: phallosoma.
A Leica MZ APO stereoscope and the Motic Images Advanced System version 3.2 were used for the measurements, as well as for the study of R. marabaensis sp. n. male genitalia. For the comparative study of the male genitalia of R. marabaensis sp. n. and R. prolixus and R. robustus, the descriptions by
The following parameters of both females (15) and males (15) were measured: total length (TL); head length (HL); the length of the four antennal segments (A1, A2, A3, and A4); the three segments of the proboscis (R1, R2, and R3); the inner distance between the eyes (IE); the outer distance between the eyes (OE); the diameter of the eyes (DE); the maximum width of the abdomen (MWA); the maximum width of the thorax (MWT); and the length, width, and diameter of the opercular opening of the eggs (
♂. BRAZIL: Pará: Marabá: Reserva Ambiental Murumurú, 10°10'05.1"S, 63°24'09.1"W, 12 May 2014, N. C. B. Von Atzingen, M. B. Furtado, UNESP.
1 ♀: same data as holotype (UNESP). 14 ♀, 14 ♂ BRAZIL: Pará: Jacundá/Jatobal/Marabá,N.C.B. Von Atzingen, Maraba Cultural Center Foundation – MCCF.
Rhodnius jacundaensis Serra, Serra and Von Atzingen (1980) [nomen nudum].
The name Rhodnius marabaensis was chosen because this species was found in the city of Marabá, Pará, Brazil.
The most notable morphological features that distinguish R. marabaensis sp. n. are the keel-shaped apex of the head, this feature is not accentuated in R. prolixus or R. robustus ; the second antennal segment of R. marabaensis sp. n. is 10.3 times larger than the first; in R. prolixus, it is 6.2 times larger, and in R. robustus it is 8.3 times larger. The prosternum has a longer and more clearly shaped stridulatory sulcus relative to those of R. prolixus and R. robustus. In R. marabaensis sp. n. the transverse carinae that border the mesosternum and the metasternum are elevated and prominent, and possess convex curvature in the central portion. In R. prolixus, they are less elevated and prominent, and in R. robustus they are interrupted in the central portion. The set of dark brown spots presents in the ventral abdomen of R. marabaensis sp. n. does not appear in R. prolixus or R. robustus. The ventral connective is also distinct among the three species: the black spots are smaller and, on the sixth segment, much smaller in R. marabaensis sp. n. The apex of the endosoma of male genitalia of R. marabaensis sp. n. was found to be long and straight, in R. prolixus, the apex is long and convex, and in R. robustus it is shorter, wide, and convex. The posterior surface and the ventral surface of the ninth and tenth segments of external female genitalia are distinct in the three species. R. marabaensis sp. n. eggs possess chorion rims, whereas those of R. prolixus and R. robustus do not (Figs
Measurements of 15 females and 15 males of R. marabaensis sp. n., R. prolixus, and R. robustus are detailed in the Table
Mean of measurement (mm) of 15 females and males of R. marabaensis sp. n., R. prolixus, and R. robustus.
Male | Female | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R. marabaensis | R. prolixus | R. robustus | R. marabaensis | R. prolixus | R. robustus | |
HL | 4.90 a | 3.87 b | 3.82 c | 5.32 a | 3.90 b | 4.06 c |
IE | 0.62 a | 0.53 b | 0.64 a | 0.59 a | 0.56 b | 0.67 c |
AO | 2.21 a | 2.05 b | 2.23 c | 3.04 a | 2.26 b | 2.38 c |
PO | 0.98 a | 0.92 b | 0.72 c | 1.06 a | 0.77 b | 0.78 c |
DE | 1.72 a | 1.94 b | 1.00 c | 1.91 a | 1.68 b | 1.64 c |
R1 | 0.97 a | 0.55 b | 0.91 c | 0.93 a | 0.57 b | 0.97 c |
R2 | 3.87 a | 3.25 b | 3.02 c | 3.77 a | 3.32 b | 3.30 c |
R3 | 0.87 a | 0.33 b | 0.92 c | 0.77 a | 0.39 b | 0.96 c |
TL | 20.41 a | 19.98 b | 20.20 c | 22.35 a | 20.98 b | 21.28 c |
MWT | 4.25 a | 4.62 b | 4.06 c | 4.88 a | 4.82 b | 4.12 c |
MWA | 6.22 a | 5.93 b | 6.03 c | 6.92 a | 6.75 b | 6.56 c |
A1 | 0.48 a | 0.38 b | 0.37 c | 0.45 a | 0.37 b | 0.38 c |
A2 | 4.72 a | 3.04 b | 3.28 c | 4.47 a | 2.88 b | 3.18 c |
A3 | 2.68 a | 2.25 b | 2.32 c | 3.05 a | 1.94 b | 2.41 c |
A4 | 1.05 a | 0.98 b | 1.54 c | 1.15 a | 0.94 b | 1.64 c |
Head with apex (central longitudinal dorsal portion), which is elevated, straw yellow, and keel shaped. This keel-shaped section presents the same shape from the beginning of the clypeus to the posterior portion of the ocelli; thus, the border of the clypeus is visible around/from the gena and the jugum (1+1), which are located laterally. However, the gena begin before the beginning of the clypeus. Thus, the gena go toward the anteclypeus which are rounded. The species presents crystalline ocelli and eyes with black and yellow ommatidia. The first and second segments of the antennae are yellow, whereas the posterior two thirds of the third segment are white, and the fourth segment is completely white. The species presents a second antennal segment that is significantly larger than the others (10.3 times larger than the first; 1.65 times larger than the third, and 4.3 times larger than the fourth) (Table
At the juncture between the neck and the thorax, there is a ring that is anteriorly black and posteriorly yellow; the anterolateral angles (1+1) are yellow. The dorsal thorax (pronotum) is shaped like a trapezoid and surrounded by a yellow carina. There are two yellow submedian carinae running lengthwise around the pronotum, from the anterior portion to the posterior one. The submedian carina border three anterior lobes, each of which has a set of black spots, and three posterior lobes with two parallel black stripes on each that are connected to the set of black spots on the anterior lobes. The triangular scutellum is marked laterally and is very clear because of its black color. The internal portion is also triangular and yellow, and it is bordered by thick and obvious carina. When the wings are removed, the posterior portion (tip) of the scutellum covers 2/3 of the I urotergite process (Figs
From the ventral surface of the thorax, a prosternum with deep, well-defined stridulatory black sulcus is visible; in the posterior portion, it takes on a funnel shape and ends as a tip between the anterior pair of legs (Fig.
The legs have an overall yellowish tone. The coxae have yellow and black spots; the trochanters are yellow and do not have spots; the femurs are yellow with black spots running lengthwise; the tibias are yellow except for the posterior sixth segment, which continues the black pattern of the tarsi (Fig.
The ventral surface of the abdomen is predominantly yellow, with three sets of black stripes: one on the central longitudinal portion and (2+2) on the side portions above the connectives (Fig.
When the male genitalia is seen from the dorsal surface, it is clear that the phallus (P) is formed by an endosoma (En), by the median extension of the basal plate (EPlb), and by the basal piece itself (Plb). When seen from the ventral surface, the phallus (P) is formed by the conjunctiva (Cj), the phallosoma (ph), the phallosoma process (PrPh), the median extension of the basal piece (EPlb), the gonopore process (PrG), and the basal piece (Plb). When seen from the lateral surface, the phallus is formed by the conjunctiva (Cj), the endosoma (En), the median extension of the basal piece (EPlb), the basal piece itself (Plb), the phallosoma (Ph), and the phallosoma process (PrPh) (Fig.
The dorsal surface of the external female genitalia was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed that the seventh segment is separated from the eighth segment by a slightly irregular line and forms (1+1) triangular tips at the border between the connective and the eighth segment. The eighth segment is trapezoid shaped. The ninth segment appears as a protrusion. The tenth segment appears as a small curve in the central portion where it delimits with the eighth segment (Fig.
From the posterior surface, (1+1) appendages can be seen on the border between the eighth and ninth segments. The tenth segment is semicircular in shape with a pronounced central slit in the shape of an upside-down V and with (1+1) protrusions at the posterior edge of the gonocoxite 8. Display is also a (1+1) gonocoxite 8 and a (1+1) gonapophysis 8 (Fig.
From the ventral surface, the lateral portions of the line that divides the seventh segment and the gonocoxites 8 and the gonapophysis 8 are curved, and the line then forms small (1+1) ascending curves and a slight depression in the central portion. The ninth segment forms (1+1) lateral flaps at the border with the tenth segment and presents transverse slits at the sub-intermediate position (1+1). The transverse slits then form into two triangles, whose tips are separated in the central portion. The tenth segment is the outer edge of the external female genitalia and is presented as a narrow curved and convex band (Fig.
The egg shells measure 1.59 mm in length and 0.71 mm in width. They present prominent collar and chorial rim (Fig.
Mean of measurements (mm) of 13 eggs of R. marabaensis sp. n., R. prolixus, and R. robustus.
Measurement | R. marabaensis | R. prolixus | R. robustus |
---|---|---|---|
L (mm) | 1.54 ± 0.04 a | 1.73 ± 0.02 b | 1.61 ± 0.04 c |
W (mm) | 0.87 ± 0.01 a | 0.71 ± 0.06 b | 0.93 ± 0.01 c |
Oo (mm) | 0.49 ± 0.01 a | 0.67 ± 0.01 b | 0.73 ± 0.01 c |
The molecular study shown the same haplotype for the find sequences of the cyt-b (693 bp) and the evaluation by BLAST have shown that R. marabaensis sp. n. is closely related to R. robustus and R. prolixus (until 99% and 94% of identity, respectively).
In epidemiological terms (i.e., considering the role of the species as vectors of T. cruzi), the three main Triatominae genera are Panstrongylus, Rhodnius, and Triatoma. Distinguishing among these three genera is not difficult because they can be characterized macroscopically based on the format of the head and the position of the antenniferous tubercle, as described by
Species | Descriptors | Distribution | References |
---|---|---|---|
R. amazonicus | Almeida, Santos & Sposina, 1973 | Brazil (Amazonas), French Guiana (Cacao, Saul) | Galvão 2014 |
R. barretti | Abad-Franch, Palomeque & Monteiro, 2013 | Colombia (Puerto de Assís), Ecuador (Lagro Ágrio) |
|
R. brethesi | Matta, 1919 | Brazil (Amazonas), Venezuela (Aragua) | Galvão 2014 |
R. colombiensis | Mejia, Galvão, Jurberg, 2009 | Colombia (Tolima) | Guhl et al. 2007 |
R. dalessandroi | Carcavallo & Barreto, 1976 | Colombia (Meta) | Guhl et al. 2007 |
R. ecuadoriensis | Lent & Leon, 1958 | Ecuador (Manabi, Eujias, Loja), Peru (Amazonas, Tumbis, Piura, Cojamarca, La libertad, Lambayeque e San Martin) |
|
R. neivai | Lent, 1953 | Colombia (Cesar), Venezuela (Lara, Falcón, Zulia) |
|
R. milesi | Carcavallo et al., 2001 | Brazil (Pará) | Galvão 2014 |
R. montenegrensis |
|
Brazil (Rondônia, Acre) | Galvão 2014 |
R. pallescens | Barber, 1932 | Colombia (Bolívar, Sucre) | Arboleda et al. 2009 |
R. paraensis | Sherlock, Guitton & Miles, 1977 | Brazil (Amazonas,Pará), French Guiana | Galvão 2014 |
R. pictipes | Stal, 1872 | Brazil, French Guiana, Colombia, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela | Galvão 2014 |
R. prolixus | Stal, 1859 | Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala |
|
R. robustus | Larousse, 1927 | Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana | Galvão 2014 |
R. stali | Lent, Jurberg & Galvão, 1993 | Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul, Acre), Bolivia (Santa Cruz, La Paz) | Matias et al. 2003 |
Rhodnius marabaensis sp. n. is predominantly yellow, whereas R. prolixus is black and R. robustus is brown. The legs of the three species are also consistent in these color schemes (Fig.
The head of R. marabaensis sp. n. has four very clear characteristics that help to distinguish it from the others:
It possesses a keel-shaped longitudinal dorsal portion (apex) running from the clypeus to the ocelli. This feature is not accentuated in R. prolixus or R. robustus (Fig.
It possesses a rounded anteclypeus. In R. prolixus and R. robustus, the anteclypeus is flat (Fig.
It possesses an indistinguishable clypeus. In R. prolixus, it is narrow in the anterior portion and wide in the posterior one. In R. robustus it is wide in the anterior portion, narrow in the medial portion, and wide in the posterior one (Fig.
The second segment of the antenna is significantly larger than the other three, with the following length ratio among the four antennal segments: 2nd > 3rd > 4th > 1st. This relative length pattern of the four antennal segments is the same as the pattern observed by
For the description of R. marabaensis sp. n. five features of the thorax allow for its distinction:
The scutellum is larger and includes two prominent internal lateral carinae. It is therefore distinct from R. prolixus and R. robustus, which present smaller scutellum and whose carinae are not pronounced (Fig.
The first urotergite has a pronounced transverse groove and inferior fringe consisting of long and straight filaments. In R. prolixus, the transverse groove does not appear and the fringe possesses short and irregular filaments. On the other hand, in R. robustus the transverse groove is not accentuated, and the fringe possesses short and straight filaments, as shown in (Fig.
It possesses a longer and more clearly shaped stridulatory sulcus relative to those of R. prolixus and R. robustus (Fig.
The transverse carinae that border the mesosternum and the metasternum differ among the three species. In R. marabaensis sp. n., they are elevated and prominent, and possess convex curvature in the central portion. In R. prolixus, they are less elevated and prominent, and in R. robustus they are interrupted in the central portion (Fig.
The metasternum is slightly rectangular in shape in R. marabaensis sp. n., whereas in R. prolixus and R. robustus they are slightly triangular (Fig.
From the view of the ventral surface, the abdomen of R. marabaensis sp. n. is distinct because of its yellow colouring; this area is brown in R. prolixus and black in R. robustus (Fig.
When the male genitalia was examined from the dorsal surface, the apex of the endosoma of R. marabaensis sp. n. was found to be long and straight; in R. prolixus, the apex is long and convex, and in R. robustus it is shorter, wide, and convex (
The external female genitalia was also considered. From the dorsal surface, R. marabaensis sp. n. and R. robustus show no differences; however, the format of the ninth segment of the dorsal surface in R. prolixus presents different characteristics (Fig.
Rhodnius marabaensis sp. n. eggs possess chorion rims, whereas those of R. prolixus and R. robustus do not. The diameter of the follicular tubes of the exochorion cells in R. prolixus are larger than those of R. marabaensis sp. n. and R. robustus; however, they are regular in R. marabaensis sp. n. and varied in R. robustus (Figs
The data obtained corroborate the status of R. marabaensis sp. n. as a new species and indicates that the use of morphology for the description of Triatominae species offers phenotypic information (morphological and morphometric) to define the status of species. It is also important to note that molecular analysis generates data that can help phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic studies of Triatominae (
We want to thank Dr. Oswaldo Pinto Serra and Raquel Guglielmetti Serra (in memoriam), who briefly characterized R. jacundaensis [nomen nudum] in 1980. We also want to thank Nelson Papavero from the Zoological Museum of USP and Cleber Galvão from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute for suggesting the scientific name of the new species. We are grateful to José Jurberg, who allowed us to observe the Herman Lent and Rodolfo Carcavallo collection at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute. We thank Marcelo Ornaghi Orlandi, Mario Cilense, Juan Carlos Guerrero Barreto, and Sebastião Dameto from the Institute of Chemistry at São Paulo State University, Araraquara, for their help with the electronic microscope, as well as Danila Blanco de Carvalho, Aline Ribeiro Rimoldi, and Felipe Fatobene from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at São Paulo State University, Araraquara, for their collaboration. Special thanks are given to Marcos Takashi Obara from the University of Brasília (UnB) and to Mara Cristina Pinto from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at São Paulo State University, Araraquara, for their suggestions, and finally, to Davi Antonio da Rosa for the photos and drawings. Financial Support: São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) grant process number 2010/15386-3; Brazilian Federal Agency for the Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES), grant process number 23038-005285/2011-2012, Program for the Improvement and Scientific Development of the Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at São Paulo State University, Araraquara - PADC/FCF/UNESP; Brazilian National Council for Scientific Technological Development (CNPq).