Species of the Rhodnius genus have a complex taxonomy because the events of phenotypic plasticity and cryptic speciation make it difficult to correctly classify these vectors. During the taxonomic history of the genus, five synonymization events occurred. Additionally, some authors suggest that R. milesi possibly represent only phenotypic polymorphisms of R. neglectus. Thus, we analyzed the specific status of R. milesi in relation to R. neglectus using phylogenetic studies with the mitochondrial gene cytochrome B and the study of reproductive barriers. The phylogenetic reconstruction grouped R. milesi together with R. neglectus from different localities, demonstrating that these taxa represent the same species based on the phylogenetic species concept. Experimental crosses demonstrate the absence of pre- and postzygotic barriers under laboratory conditions. Additionally, when the hatch rates of crosses are compared to intraspecific crosses, it can be noted that they are high and very similar. Finally, the mortality rate of the hybrids does not indicate hybrid inviability, the absence of chromosome pairing errors does not indicate hybrid sterility, and the proportion between male and female hybrids demonstrates that Haldane’s rule was not acting. Therefore, we perform the formal synonymization of R. milesi with R. neglectus.

Chagas disease, a significant global health concern rooted in social inequalities and political oversights, remains a challenging public health issue impacting millions worldwide. The increasing detection of triatomines, the vectors of Chagas disease, in urban areas complicates the situation.

Wildlife roadkill surveys in Brazil often focus on birds, as they are one of the main groups affected by road accidents. In addition roadkill, anthropogenic litter also contributes to a significant number of bird fatalities every year. The present study aimed to investigate the stomach contents and possible contamination by inorganic material of birds killed on a federal highway that crosses the Serra de Itabaiana National Park in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Monitoring and data collection were carried out from January to June 2022, with a motorcycle at an average speed of 60 km/h. The collected animals were transported to the Institute of Technology and Research, located at the Tiradentes University, Sergipe, Brazil, and a plastic material was identified. The plastic material found was subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which showed a similar wavenumber to a polymer in the polypropylene chain, very common in plastic packaging. The presence of plastics and metals in the intestinal contents of Caracara plancus and Crotophaga ani is noteworthy, as they have a greater tendency to ingest plastics due to their generalist diet. Plastic contamination in Progne chalybea and Nyctidromus albicollis probably occurred through bioaccumulation, from the consumption of insects contaminated by microplastics.

Rhodnius represents a paraphyletic group, being R. prolixus one of the most important domestic vectors of the Chagas disease. Several phenotypic identification problems, as well as divergences between classical and molecular taxonomy, have been reported. Furthermore, phylogenetic and phylogenomic studies demonstrated possible introgression events between R. prolixus and R. robustus . Based on the above, we revisited all the literature on hybridization involving R. prolixus and performed interspecific crosses between R. prolixus and other species of the R. prolixus group ( R. nasutus , R. neivai , and R. robustus ) to evaluate potential reproductive barriers and discuss taxonomic and evolutionary issues related to intra- and interspecific reproductive isolation. With the exception of the cross between R. prolixus females and R. neivai males, all other combinations resulted in hybrid offspring. Moreover, except for the cross between R. prolixus females and R. robustus males, all other combinations exhibited postzygotic barriers, including inviability, sterility and/or hybrid collapse. These results indicate that, in at least one direction, R. nasutus , R. neivai , and R. robustus are reproductively isolated from R. prolixus , confirming the specific status of the four taxa. Furthermore, based on the observed barriers, we suggest that introgression is unlikely between R. prolixus and R. nasutus , unlike R. neivai and R. robustus , which could exchange genetic material with R. prolixus through introgression, under natural conditions. Finally, we discuss all available literature on intra- and interspecific crosses of R. prolixus , demonstrating that R. pictipes and R. neglectus are also reproductively isolated from R. prolixus . Additionally, we highlight reproductive barriers observed between allopatric populations of R. prolixus , emphasizing the need for a phylogenomic study – including field-collected specimens sampled across the entire distribution of R. prolixus – to clarify evolutionary and taxonomic questions.