Genetic Variation in Field and Laboratory Populations of the Spined Soldier Bug, Podisus maculiventris

Authors

Kathleen Kneeland, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Thomas A. Coudron, USDA-Agricultural Research ServiceFollow
Erica Lindroth, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
David Stanley, USDA-Agricultural Research ServiceFollow
John E. Foster, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

5-2012

Citation

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 143:2 (May 2012), pp. 120–126.

doi: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2012.01239.x

Comments

Copyright © 2012 The Netherlands Entomological Society (no claim to original US government works); published by Wiley. Used by permission.

Abstract

The predatory spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), is an economically important and highly valued biological control agent. There is substantial information on the biology, ecology, behavior, and rearing of this stink bug. However, virtually nothing is known of its genetic variation, in natural or domesticated populations. To address this lacuna, we used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to assess the genetic variability of field and laboratory populations. Four AFLP universal primer combinations yielded a total of 209 usable loci. The AFLP results showed greater genetic variability between populations from Missouri and Mississippi (both USA), and relatively low variability within Missouri populations. We infer little genetic isolation among Missouri field populations and within laboratory populations but a significant genetic isolation between Missouri and Mississippi populations.