title: Morphology and morphometry of the scutellum of six species in the genus Meccus (Hemiptera: Triatominae).
abstract: We studied the morphology and morphometry of scutella from six species of the hemipteran genus Meccus to identify new tools to help solve taxonomic problems in closely related insect species of epidemiological relevance. Scutellum samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy and were subjected to morphometric analysis. The results mainly show differences in central depression shape, posterior process, and vestiture. We found significant dimensional differences in scutellum morphometry and a clear sexual dimorphism among species. A combination of morphology and morphometry can be used to differentiate among species of the genus Meccus.
authors.affiliation: ENCB, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, C.P. 11340, México D.F., México.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: Ma Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sánchez Espíndola
authors.forename: Alejandro D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramírez Moreno
authors.forename: Ma Alejandra
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rocha-Gómez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alejandre Aguilar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014225:Triatominae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
keywords: Meccus; morphology; morphometry; scanning electron microscopy; scutellum