Journal of Medical Entomology (2019) 56, 137-148

Marina Ciminera, Marie-Anne Auger-Rozenberg, Henri Caron, Melfran Herrera, Caroline Scotti-Saintagne, Ivan Scotti, Niklas Tysklind and Alain Roques (2019)
Genetic variation and differentiation of Hylesia metabus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae): Moths of public health importance in French Guiana and in Venezuela
Journal of Medical Entomology 56 (1), 137-148
Abstract: Hylesia moths impact human health in South America, inducing epidemic outbreaks of lepidopterism, a puriginous dermatitis caused by the urticating properties of females' abdominal setae. The classification of the Hylesia genus is complex, owing to its high diversity in Amazonia, high intraspecific morphological variance, and lack of interspecific diagnostic traits which may hide cryptic species. Outbreaks of Hylesia metabus have been considered responsible for the intense outbreaks of lepidopterism in Venezuela and French Guiana since the C20, however, little is known about genetic variability throughout the species range, which is instrumental for establishing control strategies on H. metabus. Seven microsatellites and mitochondrial gene markers were analyzed from Hylesia moths collected from two major lepidopterism outbreak South American regions. The mitochondrial gene sequences contained significant genetic variation, revealing a single, widespread, polymorphic species with distinct clusters, possibly corresponding to populations evolving in isolation. The microsatellite markers validated the mitochondrial results, and suggest the presence of three populations: one in Venezuela, and two in French Guiana. All moths sampled during outbreak events in French Guiana were assigned to a single coastal population. The causes and implications of this finding require further research.
(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): Alain Roques

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hylesia metabus		French Guiana
	Hylesia metabus		Venezuela