Reproductive compatibility among populations and host-associated lineages of the common bed bug (Cimex lectulariusL.)

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Authors

DEVRIES Zachary C. SANTANGELO Richard G. BOOTH Warren LAWRENCE Christopher G. BALVIN Ondřej BARTONIČKA Tomáš SCHAL Coby

Year of publication 2020
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Ecology and Evolution
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6738
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6738
Keywords Cimexlectularius; host-associated differentiation; reproduction; speciation; Wolbachia
Description As populations differentiate across geographic or host-association barriers, interpopulation fertility is often a measure of the extent of incipient speciation. The bed bug,Cimex lectulariusL., was recently found to form two host-associated lineages within Europe: one found with humans (human-associated, HA) and the other found with bats (bat-associated, BA). No unequivocal evidence of contemporary gene flow between these lineages has been found; however, it is unclear whether this is due to an inability to produce viable "hybrid" offspring. To address this question and determine the extent of compatibility between host-associated lineages, we set up mating crosses among populations of bed bugs based on both their host association (human-HA vs. bat-BA) and geographic origin (North America vs. Europe). Within-population fecundity was significantly higher for all HA populations (>1.7 eggs/day) than for BA populations (<1 egg/day). However, all within-population crosses, regardless of host association, had >92% egg hatch rates. Contrary to previous reports, in all interlineage crosses, successful matings occurred, fertile eggs were oviposited, and the F-1"hybrid" generation was found to be reproductively viable. In addition, we evaluated interpopulation genetic variation inWolbachiaamong host-associated lineages. We did not find any clear patterns related to host association, nor did we observe a homogenization ofWolbachialineages across populations that might explain a breakdown of reproductive incompatibility. These results indicate that while the HA and BA populations ofC. lectulariusrepresent genetically differentiated host-associated lineages, possibly undergoing sympatric speciation, this is in its incipient stage as they remain reproductively compatible. Other behavioral, physiological, and/or ecological factors likely maintain host-associated differentiation.
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