BioControl (2012) 57, 751-758
Cor J. Vink, Barbara I.P. Barratt, Craig B. Phillips and Diane M. Barton (2012)
Moroccan specimens of Microctonus aethiopoides spice our understanding of genetic variation in this internationally important braconid parasitoid of adult weevils
BioControl 57 (6), 751-758
Abstract: Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was introduced from Morocco to Australia and New Zealand for biological control of the lucerne pest, Sitona discoideus. Previous research has indicated that M. aethiopoides intraspecific genetic variation is more strongly associated with weevil host species than geographic origin. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences from parasitoids dissected from weevils collected during a survey of lucerne-growing areas in Morocco allowed us to further test this hypothesis. As found previously, there were two strong clades in M. aethiopoides with no geographical basis to this structure. Earlier research suggested that intraspecific variability within M. aethiopoides was related to weevil host genus (Sitona vs. Hypera), and the analysis confirmed that one of the clades corresponded strongly with the host Sitona discoideus. The other clade, however, previously characterised by parasitoids from Hypera postica also included parasitoids dissected from Charagmus spp., which is a sister genus to Sitona. It is suggested that food plant associations of the host weevils might have had an influence on the evolutionary history of the parasitoid.
(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): Cor J. Vink, Barbara I.P. Barratt, Craig B. Phillips
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
molecular biology - genes
general biology - morphology - evolution
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypera postica | ||||
| Sitona discoideus | Morocco | |||
| Microctonus aethiopoides (parasitoid) | Hypera postica | |||
| Microctonus aethiopoides (parasitoid) | Sitona discoideus | Morocco |
