Vector-Host Insects in Colombia: Molecular Revelations of ITS2 and COII Markers in their Phylogeny and Biogeography

Abstract

This study investigated the phylogeny and biogeography of vector-host insects in Colombia using molecular markers ITS2 and COII. By leveraging data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), we established local knowledge bases of molecular markers for Diptera and Hemiptera species. We used maximum likelihood and Neighbor-Joining models to examine the kinship relationships, origins, and potential distributions of these vector-host insects. Our analysis revealed 18 paraphyletic clades with a resolution exceeding 55% for Diptera, and 28 clades surpassing 50% for ITS2. In the case of Hemiptera, we identified 20 paraphyletic clades with a resolution greater than 13% using the COII marker, and 14 paraphyletic clades with a resolution higher than 50% with ITS2. These results highlight the robustness and accuracy of ITS2 and COII markers in discerning host organisms in Colombia, owing to their high precision, molecular stability, and ease of PCR amplification. We also found that Diptera and Hemiptera genera are widespread across all regions of Colombia. However, there is a noticeable paucity of molecular data and taxonomic records. This underscores the need for future research to unravel the biogeography and ecology of insect vectors and hosts in Colombia, thus facilitating the development of comprehensive national biodiversity databases.