Applied Entomology and Zoology (2004) 39, 427-433

Kaori Yara (2004)
Relationship between the introduced and indigenous parasitoids Torymus sinensis and T. beneficus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) as inferred from mt-DNA (COI) sequences
Applied Entomology and Zoology 39 (3), 427-433
Abstract: The parasitoid wasps Torymus sinensis (Ts) and three strains of T. beneficus (early-spring strain: TbE; late-spring strain: TbL; autumn strain: TbA) are respectively introduced and indigenous natural enemies of the chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus, an invasive chestnut pest. In this study, the genetic relationships among Ts and three strains of Tb from Japan, China and Korea were investigated by sequencing a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Three distinct groups were recognized in a constructed phylogenetic tree, the first group further consists of three subgroups. Ts belongs to two subgroups, whereas TbL belongs to the remaining subgroup. TbE and TbA belong to the second group, indicating that TbL is genetically more closely related to Ts a different species than to TbE and TbA strains considered the same species. This requires a reconsideration, especially for TbL, of their taxonomical treatment. The third group consisted of an indigenous Torymus parasitoid that we were unable to identify morphologically, indicating that an unknown Torymus parasitoid that is both genetically and morphologically different from the Ts and the Tb strains exploits D. kuriphilus in Japan.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dryocosmus kuriphilus	Chestnut (Castanea)	Japan
Torymus sinensis (parasitoid)	Dryocosmus kuriphilus	Chestnut (Castanea)	Japan
Torymus beneficus (parasitoid)	Dryocosmus kuriphilus		Korea-South
Torymus beneficus (parasitoid)	Dryocosmus kuriphilus	Chestnut (Castanea)	Japan