A new species and karyotype variation in the bordering distribution of Mepraia spinolai (Porter) and Mepraia gajardoi Frías et al (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in chile and its parapatric model of speciation

ABSTRACT

In the present study, the morphology, color pattern, chromosomal complement and aspects of meiosis in natural populations at the borders of the distributions of Mepraia gajardoi Frías et al and Mepraia spinolai (Porter) are described. The males of these bordering populations are brachypterous or macropterous, while females are always micropterous. Morphological and cytogenetic data indicated that the populations that border the distributions of M. gajardoi and M. spinolai, belong to a different species of parapatric origin.