Annals of the Entomological Society of America (2007) 100, 403-412

David R. Horton, Thomas R. Unruh, Tamera M. Lewis and Kelly Thomsen-Archer (2007)
Morphological and genetic divergence in three populations of Anthocoris antevolens (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Anthocoridae)
Annals of the Entomological Society of America 100 (3), 403-412
Abstract: Anthocoris antevolens White (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is a widespread predatory bug in North America that exhibits substantial geographic variation in coloration, body measurements, size and shape of the male genitalia, pubescence, and sexual behavior. Earlier behavioral studies with three populations (including two populations that are sympatric in central Washington) showed that there was limited or no successful mating between insects from nonlike populations, despite vigorous mating attempts by males. The current study shows that males from those three populations diverge also in size and shape of claspers, length of the phallus, body measurements, and pubescence. Divergence extends to the two sympatric populations. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA shows that phenotypic divergence is associated with genetic divergence. Results reported here, in combination with the earlier published mating trials, support statements made elsewhere by us that A. antevolens is actually a complex of an unknown number of externally similar species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): David R. Horton

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
identification/taxonomy

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Anthocoris antevolens (predator)			U.S.A. (NW)