Speciation Processes in Triatominae

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter intends to familiarize the reader with the basic concepts regarding speciation in insects, through the description and exemplification of the three most common speciation modes described in the specialized literature on the subject: the allopatric, parapatric, and sympatric speciation modes.We also argue that nowadays there is, perhaps, an excess of species concepts to choose from. Two of those have been used more often by the Triatominae research community: the biological species concept and the phylogenetic species concept. The idea first advanced by De Queiroz (Syst Biol 56(6):879–886, 2007) that the proposition of a single species concept that would unify all concepts available is not only desirable but also essential at this point. The issue of overconservative systematics is considered with emphasis on the paraphyly of Triatoma. The implications of phenotypic plasticity in traditional triatomine taxonomy are also addressed.How long does it take for a new species of triatomine to be formed? Early proposals envisioned very short time intervals say, a few hundred years, for the process to be completed. Two well-studied examples are presented.How do triatomines speciate? Vicariance and allopatric speciation seem to be the norm in Triatominae speciation. Three examples are discussed. Nonetheless, sympatric speciation has also been evoked to account for the generation of particular species within cryptic species complexes. Two examples are given.Finally, a discussion toward the benefits of relying on integrative and evolutionarily sound taxonomy approaches is offered.KeywordsSpeciationSympatryAllopatrySpecies conceptsSystematicsPhenotypic plasticity