Are Altica carduorumand Altica cirsicola(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Different Species? Implications for the Release of A. cirsicolafor the Biocontrol of Canada Thistle in Canada
Abstract
Altica carduorumand Altica cirsicolaare two species of leaf-feeding beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) which appear to be morphologically indistinguishable and reportedly hybridize in the laboratory. A European population of A. carduorumwas previously screened for host-plant specificity and released in North America for the control of Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense.A population of A. cirsicolafrom China is currently being considered as a biocontrol agent for C. arvenseand, as a different beetle species, must be screened using host-specificity tests similar to those used for A. carduorum.If A. carduorumand A. cirsicolaare, in fact, one species, the screening requirements for A. cirsicolacould be significantly reduced. Hence, we investigated the taxonomic relationship between A. carduorumand A. cirsicolausing morphometric analyses, hybridization experiments, and DNA fingerprinting using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Discriminant function analyses indicate that A. carduorumand A. cirsicolacannot be reliably distinguished by their morphologies, and interspecific matings produce fertile F 1offspring. However, because interspecific matings produce significantly fewer offspring than intraspecific matings, and because of clear differences in their DNA profiles, we conclude that A. carduorumand A. cirsicolaare separate species. This study serves to highlight the value of genetic analyses in taxonomic studies and their role in biological control programs.
- Publication:
-
Biological Control
- Pub Date:
- 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1006/bcon.1996.0039
- Bibcode:
- 1996BiolC...6..306L
- Keywords:
-
- Altica carduorum; Altica cirsicola; Canada thistle; Cirsium arvense; DNA fingerprinting; hybridization; morphometrics; RAPD analysis; species identification; weed biocontrol