New molecular data on subcutaneous Philornis (Diptera: Muscidae) from southern 4 South America suggests the existence of a species complex

QUIROGA, MA; MONJE, LD; ARRABAL, JP; BELDOMENICO PM

REVISTA MEXICANA DE BIODIVERSIDAD

INST BIOLOGIA

Lugar: México; Año: 2016 vol. 87 p. 1383 - 1386

1870-3453

The taxonomic identification of species in the genus Philornis Meinert 24 (Diptera: Muscidae) has been based primarily upon analysis of morphological 25 characters. However, relying solely on morphology has led to frequent species 26 misidentification. This has been empirically demonstrated when specimens identified 27 morphologically as P. seguyi have been reclassified as P. torquans based on DNA 28 sequences of the second ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS2), showing that the 29 morphologic distinction between these 2 species is extremely challenging. Herein, new 30 molecular data on specimens assigned to P. torquans and P. seguyi from the type 31 locality of P. seguyi (Misiones province, Argentina) were analyzed. The ITS2 sequences 32 obtained differed from those previously reported for Philornis, increasing to 3 the 33 number of documented genotypes of flies morphologically indistinguishable from P. 34 torquans. These results strongly suggest that subcutaneous Philornis spp. from southern 35 South America could represent a species complex (P. torquans complex).