Journal of Economic Entomology (2010) 103, 898-907

Jacqueline Hirsch, Peter Sprick and Annette Reineke (2010)
Molecular identification of larval stages of Otiorhynchus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) species based on polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis
Journal of Economic Entomology 103 (3), 898-907
Abstract: A couple of different members of the coleopteran genus Otiorhynchus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are becoming increasingly important as pests of nursery and ornamental plants in global horticulture. Although adult weevils are morphologically distinguishable by skilled personnel, high potential for misidentification is given for cryptic larval stages. For developing and applying efficient pest management strategies the determination of the respective species is however a prerequisite, because each species may have a different phenology or a varying susceptibility to pesticides. Here, we report on the development of a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method for differentiation among 16 Otiorhynchus and seven other weevil species independent of their developmental stage. An ~780-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II was amplified and subsequently digested with at most four restriction enzymes generating species-specific fragment patterns. The assay was validated on a total of 127 individuals and the obtained fragment patterns correctly identified 23 different weevil species. The PCR-RFLP method reported here is cost-effective, robust, and fast and could be used in the future by plant protection services for diagnostic purposes.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jacqueline Hirsch, Annette Reineke

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
identification/taxonomy

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Otiorhynchus ligustici		Germany
	Otiorhynchus sulcatus		Germany
	Otiorhynchus ovatus		Germany
	Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus		Germany
	Otiorhynchus singularis		Germany
	Otiorhynchus raucus		Germany
	Otiorhynchus armadillo		Germany
	Otiorhynchus meridionalis		Germany