Bulletin of Entomological Research (2007) 97, 585-590

C. Magaña, B. Beroiz, P. Hernández-Crespo, M. Montes de Oca, A. Carnero, F. Ortego and P. Castañera (2007)
Population structure of the banana weevil, an introduced pest in the Canary Islands, studied by RAPD analysis
Bulletin of Entomological Research 97 (6), 585-590
Abstract: The banana weevil (BW), Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most important insect pests of bananas and plantains. The mobility and the origin of BW infestations at the Canary Islands (Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma) have been analysed using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) as molecular markers. Populations from Costa Rica, Colombia, Uganda and Madeira were also included for comparison. One hundred and fifteen reproducible bands from eight primers were obtained. The level of polymorphism in the populations from the Canary Islands (40-62%) was in the range of those found in other populations. Nei's genetic distances, pair-wise fixation index (FST) values indicate that the closest populations are Tenerife populations among themselves (Nei's genetic distance=0.054-0.100; FST=0.091-0.157) and Costa Rica and Colombia populations (Nei's genetic distance=0.049; FST=0.113). Our results indicate the existence of BW local biotypes with limited gene flow and affected by genetic drift. These results are compatible with a unique event of colonization at Tenerife; whereas, the outbreaks in La Gomera and La Palma may come from independent introductions. The Madeira population is phylogenetically and geographically closer to the Canary Islands populations, suggesting that it is the most likely source of the insects introduced in the Canary Islands.
(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): Pedro Castañera, Félix Ortego

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cosmopolites sordidus	Banana/plantain (Musa)	Uganda
	Cosmopolites sordidus	Banana/plantain (Musa)	Costa Rica
	Cosmopolites sordidus	Banana/plantain (Musa)	Colombia
	Cosmopolites sordidus	Banana/plantain (Musa)	Portugal (Madeira)
	Cosmopolites sordidus	Banana/plantain (Musa)	Spain (Canary Is.)