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Cryptic biodiversity in the cytogenome of bird‐biting blackflies in N orth A frica
Author(s) -
ADLER P. H.,
CHERAIRIA M.,
ARIGUE S. F.,
SAMRAOUI B.,
BELQAT B.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
medical and veterinary entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2915
pISSN - 0269-283X
DOI - 10.1111/mve.12115
Subject(s) - biology , biodiversity , biting , zoology , ecology
Bird‐biting blackflies in the Simulium ( Eusimulium ) aureum group ( D iptera: S imuliidae) are widespread vectors of Leucocytozoon and Trypanosoma parasites. The polytene chromosomes of 619 larvae of the three nominal members of the S. aureum group in N orth A frica were evaluated cytogenetically for cryptic biodiversity. Seven chromosomal segregates were discovered among 29 populations in A lgeria and M orocco. This diversity was based primarily on two chromosomal inversions, which have assumed unique roles in different lineages, including sex linkage, fixation, loss and autosomal polymorphism. Reproductive isolation was demonstrated for six of the seven segregates, doubling the number of species known in the area. Four species were linked with existing names: (a) Simulium mellah G iudicelli & B ouzidi, which is known only from N orth A frican high‐salinity habitats; (b) Simulium petricolum ( R ivosecchi), which is tentatively conspecific with continental E uropean populations; (c) Simulium rubzovianum ( S herban) and its synonym Simulium latinum ( R ubtsov), which is widely distributed from N orth A frica across E urope into W estern A sia, and (d) Simulium velutinum ( S antos A breu) and its new synonym Simulium tenerificum C rosskey, which is restricted to N orth A frica and the C anary I slands. Of the remaining entities, two are new species precinctive to N orth A frica and one, known only from M orocco, is of undetermined taxonomic status.