Triatoma yelapensis sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from Mexico, with a Key of Triatoma Species Recorded in Mexico

Insects. 2023 Mar 29;14(4):331. doi: 10.3390/insects14040331.

Abstract

Thirty-four species of Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) are recorded in Mexico, Triatoma Laporte, 1832 the most speciose genus in this country. Here, we describe Triatoma yelapensis sp. nov. from the Pacific coast of Jalisco (Mexico). The most similar species to T. yelapensis sp. nov. is T. recurva (Stål, 1868), but they differ in head longitude, the proportion of labial segments, coloration pattern of corium and connexivum, spiracles location, and male genitalia. To provide statistical support for the morphological distinctiveness of the new species, we performed a geometric morphometric analysis of T. yelapensis sp. nov., T. dimidiata s.s. (Latreille, 1811), T. gerstaeckeri (Stål, 1859), and T. recurva (Stål, 1868), considering head morphology. We also provide an updated key of the genus Triatoma for species recorded in Mexico.

Keywords: Triatoma recurva; Triatominae; geometric morphometry; vector of Chagas disease.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz).