A portion of the mitochondrial large ribosomal RNA gene was amplified and sequenced (460 base pairs) for 10 individuals of each of nine samples of black flies representing three sibling species of the Simulium venustum complex (CC, CC3, and AC(gB)) and two sibling species of the Simulium verecundum complex (ACD = Simulium rostratum and AA). Mitochondrial DNA haplotype heterogeneity was observed in all but the sample of S. verecundum AA from New Hampshire. The sample of S. venustum CC3 had a significantly larger number of haplotypes than other samples. A predominant haplotype was found in most samples except S. venustum CC3 and S. venustum CC from New Hampshire (nine haplotypes in the sample of S. venustum CC3 and two haplotypes with equal frequency in the sample of S. venustum CC from New Hampshire). The predominant haplotype was the same among the three samples of S. verecundum AA. Samples of S. venustum CC also shared haplotypes, but the predominant haplotype was different in each sample. Despite intraspecific variation, haplotypes are usually clustered on a conspecific basis.
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