Intraspecific sensilla dimorphism in (Prostigmata, Trombiculidae).

is one of the dominant chigger species in Southeast Asia and a potential carrier of scrub typhus, due in part to its cosmopolitan nature. This study explored the possible biological significance of the observed dimorphism in the shape of its scutum sensilla. Sensilla are specialized structures that are generally adapted to perform specific functions related to sensory capabilities, so their shape and sizes are expected to vary between taxa.

Geometry of posterior larval spiracles to identify medically and forensically important calliphorids in Thailand.

Fly identification is the primary step of analysis in forensic entomology. Although morphology and molecular techniques are considered satisfactory methods, some constraints may arise from a financial or even human point of view. Over the past decade, the geometric morphometric approach has been increasingly advocated for the classification and identification of arthropods.

Ctenocephalides orientis and Ctenocephalides felis in Thailand: Head geometry by species, sex and geography.

Fleas in the genus Ctenocephalides serve as biological vectors or intermediate hosts of microorganisms such as bacteria, rickettsia, protozoa and helminths. Ctenocephalides felis has a worldwide distribution, while C. orientis has long been considered as a subspecies of C.

Comparison of Two Different Morphological Methods to Study the Pronotum of Cimicidae: Bed Bugs, Bat Bugs, and Swallow Bugs.

An infestation of a Cimicidae (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) member, especially the bed bug, can cause economic loss and impact health. A cost-effective and user-friendly method for identifying the infesting species will help with the early detection and control of infestations. A linear morphometric method is often used, but it requires the examination of many characters and a highly preserved specimen.

Does Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) modify the antennal phenotype of Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811) (Hemiptera: Triatominae)?

Background: Triatoma dimidiata is a vector of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Phenotypic plasticity allows an organism to adjust its phenotype in response to stimuli or environmental conditions. Understanding the effect of T.

Morphological description of Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) veintemillasi n. sp., a new sand fly species from the sub-Andean region of Bolivia.

Background: Most sand fly species are located in the Americas; some act as vectors of leishmaniasis and other human diseases. In Bolivia, about 25% of Neotropical species have been identified, and only a few have been implicated as vectors of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. A new species of anthropophilic sand fly from the sub-Andean region of Alto Beni is described herein.

Species Discrimination of Three (Formicidae: Ponerinae) Species in Thailand Using Outline Morphometrics.

All members of the ant genus Latreille, 1804 are venomous ants. Four species in this genus have been identified from Thailand: Mayr, 1867; Emery, 1892; Smith, 1757; and Smith, 1758. The three latter species are available and have been used for an outline morphometric study.

Multidisciplinary approach detects speciation within the kissing bug Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus populations (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Reduviidae).

Background: Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus (Hemiptera-Reduviidae) is a triatomine species with a wide geographic distribution and a broad phenotypic variability. In some countries, this species is found infesting and colonising domiciliary ecotopes representing an epidemiological risk factor as a vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, etiological agent of Chagas disease. In spite of this, little is known about P.

Landmark Data to Distinguish and Identify Morphologically Close spp. (Diptera: Tabanidae).

spp., also known as horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae), are important vectors of several animal pathogens. Adult females of   and , which are members of the complex, are morphologically similar and hence difficult to distinguish using morphological characteristics.

Do the new triatomine species pose new challenges or strategies for monitoring Chagas disease? An overview from 1979-2021.

Chagas disease persists as one of the most important, and yet most neglected, diseases in the world, and several changes in its epidemiological aspects have been recorded since its discovery. Currently, some of the most relevant changes are related to: (i) the reduction in the incidence of the endemic due to the control of the most important vectors, Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus, in many countries; (ii) the migration of human populations spreading cases of the disease throughout the world, from endemic to non-endemic areas, transforming Chagas disease into a global threat; and (iii) new acute cases and deaths caused by oral transmission, especially in the north of Brazil. Despite the reduction in the number of cases, new challenges need to be responded to, including monitoring and control activities aiming to prevent house infestation by the secondary vectors from occurring.

The Unequal Taxonomic Signal of Mosquito Wing Cells.

Accurate identification of mosquito species is critically important for monitoring and controlling the impact of human diseases they transmit. Here, we investigate four mosquito species: , , and that co-occur in tropical and subtropical regions, and whose morphological similarity challenges their accurate identification, a crucial requirement in entomological surveillance programs. Previous publications reveal a clear taxonomic signal embedded in wing cell landmark configuration, as well as in the external contour of the wings.

Chagas vectors Panstrongylus chinai (Del Ponte, 1929) and Panstrongylus howardi (Neiva, 1911): chromatic forms or true species?

Background: Chagas disease is a parasitic infection transmitted by "kissing bugs" (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) that has a huge economic impact in Latin American countries. The vector species with the upmost epidemiological importance in Ecuador are Rhodnius ecuadoriensis (Lent & Leon, 1958) and Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811). However, other species such as Panstrongylus howardi (Neiva, 1911) and Panstrongylus chinai (Del Ponte, 1929) act as secondary vectors due to their growing adaptation to domestic structures and their ability to transmit the parasite to humans.

, and intermediate forms: geometric morphometrics and an artificial neural network to help morphological identification.

Background: and cause fascioliasis in both humans and livestock. Some adult specimens of sp. referred to as "intermediate forms" based on their genetic traits, are also frequently reported.

A template-dependent semilandmarks treatment and its use in medical entomology.

In medical entomology, as well as in many other groups of arthropods, geometric morphometrics has become a powerful tool for species identification and population characterization. The approach lies on the relative position of some anatomical points (landmarks) or, more recently, of curved features (semilandmarks). Landmarks are described by coordinates of points easy to recognize from one individual to another.

Geometric morphometrics in the cloud.

XYOM, for XY Online Morphometrics, is an online implementation of the geometric morphometric (GM) approach. It is a platform-independent product, and is presented here as an optional alternative software to client side morphometrics software. From the point of view of the user, the interesting features of a web application are: no download, no installation, no configuration, and automatic updating.

Geometric morphometrics approach towards discrimination of three member species of Maculatus group in Thailand.

Members of the Maculatus group are important malaria vectors in the border regions of Thailand. However, the role of each species in malaria transmission remains unclear because of their highly similar morphologies, making them difficult to be differentiated. Whereas An.

Triatominae: does the shape change of non-viable eggs compromise species recognition?

Background: Eggs have epidemiological and taxonomic importance in the subfamily Triatominae, which contains Chagas disease vectors. The metric properties (size and shape) of eggs are useful for distinguishing between close species, or different geographical populations of the same species.

Methods: We examined the effects of egg viability on its metric properties, and the possible consequences on species recognition.

The modern morphometric approach to identify eggs of Triatominae.

Background: Egg morphometrics in the Triatominae has proved to be informative for distinguishing tribes or genera, and has been based generally on traditional morphometrics. However, more resolution is required, allowing species or even population recognition, because the presence of eggs in the domicile could be related to the species ability to colonize human dwellings, suggesting its importance as a vector.

Results: We explored the resolution of modern morphometric methods to distinguish not only tribes and genera, but also species or geographic populations in some important Triatominae.

Wing geometry of Phlebotomus stantoni and Sergentomyia hodgsoni from different geographical locations in Thailand.

Geographic populations of the two main sandflies genera present in Thailand were studied for species and population identification. Size and shape of Phlebotomus stantoni and Sergentomyia hodgsoni from different island and mainland locations were examined by landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Intraspecific and interspecific wing comparison was carried out based on 12 anatomical landmarks.

Ecology and morphological variations in wings of Phlebotomus ariasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the region of Roquedur (Gard, France): a geometric morphometrics approach.

Background: Phlebotomus ariasi Tonnoir, 1921, is the predominant sand fly species in the Cevennes region and a proven vector of Leishmania infantum, which is the main pathogen of visceral and canine leishmaniasis in the south of France. Even if this species is widely present in Western Mediterranean countries, its biology and ecology remain poorly known. The main goals of this work are to investigate the phenotypic variation of P.

Landmark and outline-based geometric morphometrics analysis of three Stomoxys flies (Diptera: Muscidae).

Adult flies of the genus Stomoxys Geoffroy, 1762 (Diptera: Muscidae), especially S. pullus Austen, 1909, S. uruma Shinonaga et Kano, 1966 and S.

Linking morphometric and genetic divergence with host use in the tick complex, Ornithodoros capensis sensu lato.

Host specific adaptations in parasites can lead to the divergence of conspecific populations. However, this divergence can be difficult to measure because morphological changes may not be expressed or because obvious changes may simply reflect phenotypic plasticity. Combining both genetic and phenotypic information can enable a better understanding of the divergence process and help identify the underlying selective forces, particularly in closely-related species groups.

DNA barcoding and wing morphometrics to distinguish three Aedes vectors in Thailand.

Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) (L.), Ae. albopictus (Skuse), and Ae.

Can body traits, other than wings, reflect the flight ability of Triatominae bugs?

Introduction: Insects of the subfamily Triatominae are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi , the Chagas disease parasite, and their flying behavior has epidemiological importance. The flying capacity is strikingly different across and within Triatominae species, as well as between sexes or individuals. Many Triatoma infestans individuals have wings but no flying muscles.