Natural interspecific hybridisation of simulium sanctipauli s.l. with Simulium squamosum and Simulium yahense (Diptera: Simuliidae).

Abstract

Natural hybridisation between Simulium sanctipauli (sensu Quillevéré et al. 1981) and Simulium squamosum/yahense occurs at a rate of around 0.001. A single larva has been found which is unambiguously a backcross between S. sanctipauli s.l. and a S. sanctipauli s.l. X squamosum/yahense hybrid. This discovery indicates the possibility of genetic introgression between these species. Examination of the polytene chromosomes of this backcross progeny and subsequent re-examination of the type specimens has led to the remapping of fixed interspecific inversions in chromosome arm 1L.