Phylogeography of Chelonus insularis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Campoletis sonorensis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), two primary neotropical parasitoids of the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

JOURDIE, VIOLAINE; VIRLA, EDUARDO G.; MURILLO, H.; BENTO, J.M.; TURLINGS, T.; ALVAREZ, N.

ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGYCAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC AMER

Lugar: EEUU; Año: 2010 vol. 103 p. 742 - 749

0013-8746

In a previous study, we observed no spatial genetic structure in Mexican populations of the parasitoids Chelonus insularis Cresson (Hymenotera: Braconidae) and Campoletis sonorensis Cameron (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) using microsatellite markers. In the current study, we investigated whether there is any potential structure at a larger scale. Insects of both species were collected across the American continent and their phylogeography was investigated using both nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Our results suggest an ancient north-south migration of C. insularis, while no clear pattern could be determined for C. sonorensis. Nonetheless, our topology addresses the existence of a cryptic taxon within this later species: a few Canadian specimens determined as C. sonorensis branch outside a clade composed of the Argentinean C. grioti, the Brazilian C. flavicincta and the rest of the C. sonorensis individuals. Overall, the loosely defined spatial genetic structure at a local fine scale was also found at a larger scale for both species. Dispersal of these insects may be partly driven by wind as suggested by genetic similarities between individuals coming from very distant locations.