BioControl (2012) 57, 397-404

R.L. Nadel, M.J. Wingfield, M.C. Scholes, S.A. Lawson, A.E. Noack, S. Neser and B. Slippers (2012)
Mitochondrial DNA diversity of Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae): a potential biological control agent for Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae)
BioControl 57 (3), 397-404
Abstract: Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) is a native Australian Eucalyptus sap-feeding insect that has become invasive and seriously damaging to commercially grown Eucalyptus in the Southern Hemisphere. Cleruchoides noackae Lin and Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) was recently discovered as an egg parasitoid of the Thaumastocoridae in Australia. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COI) sequence diversity amongst 104 individuals from these native C. noackae populations revealed 24 sequence haplotypes. The COI haplotypes of individuals collected from the Sydney and Southeast Queensland clustered in distinct groups, indicating limited spread of the insect between the regions. Individuals collected from Perth in Western Australia were represented by four COI haplotypes. Although this population is geographically more isolated from other populations, two COI haplotypes were identical to haplotypes found in the Sydney region. The results suggest that C. noackae has recently been introduced into Perth, possibly from the Sydney area. The high mtDNA diversity and limited spread that is suggested for C. noackae is in contrast to the lack of geographic associated mtDNA diversity and extensive spread of T. peregrinus. If implemented as a biological control agent, this factor will need to be considered in collecting and releasing C. noackae.
(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): Bernard Slippers, Ryan L. Nadel, Michael J. Wingfield

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
molecular biology - genes

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Thaumastocoris peregrinus	Eucalypt (Eucalyptus)
Cleruchoides noackae (parasitoid)			Australia (South+SE)
Cleruchoides noackae (parasitoid)			Australia (Western)
Cleruchoides noackae (parasitoid)	Thaumastocoris peregrinus		Australia (NT+QLD)