title: Study of the external female genitalia of 14 Rhodnius species (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) using scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among the vectors of Chagas disease (Hemiptera: Reduviidae:Triatominae), there are eighteen Rhodnius species described and some are difficult to identify. The aim of this article is to contribute to the specific identification of fourteen Rhodnius spp. through morphological characters of the external female genitalia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female abdomens were cut transversely. The specimens were then prepared for examination by using scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The careful examination of the dorsal, posterior and ventral sides revealed characteristics that allowed the identification of each of the fourteen species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of external female genitalia as characteristics are proposed as a tool for specifically identifying Rhodnius species, and an identification key for these species is presented.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Araraquara, Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú km 1, 14 801-902, Araraquara, SP, Brasil. joaoaristeu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: João Aristeu
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: da Rosa
authors.forename: Vagner José
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Sueli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardim
authors.forename: Danila Blanco
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Jader
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Juliana Damieli
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Heloisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pinotti
authors.forename: Mara Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cilense
authors.forename: Cleber
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: José Maria Soares
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000648:ultrastructure*