Pest Management Science (2021) 77, 2282-2291

Ivan Drahun, Kiana F. Wiebe, Cody W. Koloski, Willem G. van Herk and Bryan J. Cassone (2021)
Genetic structure and population demographics of Hypnoidus bicolor (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in the Canadian Prairies
Pest Management Science 77 (5), 2282-2291
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Following banning of the pesticide lindane in most counties, wireworms (i.e., the soil-living larval stages of click beetles) have become major pests of a variety of economically important field crops. Hypnoidus bicolor is a common pest species in the Canadian Prairies. However, little is known about its life history, which impedes the development of effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Population genetic approaches have the potential to assist in the development of IPM.
RESULTS
We sequenced a 622-bp fragment of the COX1 gene from 326 H. bicolor wireworm and click beetles collected from 13 localities on the Canadian Prairies. Two genetically distinct (>4.66% sequence divergence) clades were identified, suggesting that they may be part of a species complex. Clade A predominated and increased in prevalence the further east samples were collected, whereas the opposite was true for clade B. Clade B appears to be comprised of two mitochondrial DNA groups, however, one group was represented by only one haplotype. Both clades were characterized by uneven gene flow among populations with low levels of regional genetic structuring. Clade A appeared to have undergone population and range expansions, which may coincide with the advent of intensive agriculture practices in the prairies.
CONCLUSION
Knowledge of species composition and population structure is important for the development of effective IPM strategies but is often lacking for wireworms. Our study fills these knowledge gaps for a predominant pest species in the prairies, H. bicolor, by providing robust evidence for cryptic forms and characterizing its dispersal patterns and population dynamics.
(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): Willem G. van Herk

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.
	Hypnoidus bicolor		Canada (west)