Journal of Economic Entomology (2011) 104, 920-932

Leah K. Tooman, Caroline J. Rose, Colm Carraher, D. Max Suckling, Sébastien Rioux Paquette, Lisa A. Ledezma, Todd M. Gilligan, Marc Epstein, Norman B. Barr and Richard D. Newcomb (2011)
Patterns of mitochondrial haplotype diversity in the invasive pest Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 104 (3), 920-932
Abstract: The light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a horticultural pest of Australia and New Zealand that has more recently invaded Hawaii, Europe, and California. A 2,216-bp region of the mitochondrial genome containing the cytochrome oxidase I and II genes was sequenced from 752 individuals. Haplotype network analyses revealed a major split between a predominantly Western Australian clade and all other samples, suggestive of either a deep genetic divergence or a cryptic species. Nucleotide and haplotype diversity were highest in the country of origin, Australia, and in New Zealand populations, with evidence of haplotype sharing between New Zealand and Tasmania. Nucleotide and haplotype diversity were higher in California than within the British Isles or Hawaii. From the total of 96 haplotypes, seven were found in California, of which four were private. Within California, there have been at least two introductions; based on genetic diversity we were unable to assign a likely source for a single moth found and eradicated in Los Angeles in 2007; however, our data suggest it is unlikely that Hawaii and the British Isles are sources of the major E. postvittana population found throughout the rest of the state since 2006.
(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): Richard D. Newcomb, David Maxwell Suckling

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Epiphyas postvittana		United Kingdom
	Epiphyas postvittana		U.S.A. (SW)
	Epiphyas postvittana		Australia (South+SE)
	Epiphyas postvittana		New Zealand
	Epiphyas postvittana		U.S.A. (Hawaii)
	Epiphyas postvittana		Australia (Western)