Systematics of the Dioryctria abietella Species Group (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Based on Mitochondrial Dna

Abstract

Coneworms of the genus Dioryctria Zeller include a number of serious pests of conifer seeds that are notoriously difficult to distinguish as species. We surveyed mitochondrial DNA variation within the abietella species group by sequencing 451 bp of COI and 572 bp of COII genes from 64 individuals of 6 major species in the group. In addition to examining phylogenetic relationships within European members of the group, the study focused on the two most damaging species, D. abietivorella Grote from North America and D. abietella Denis and Schiffermüller from Europe and Asia, which have been considered taxonomically synonymous in the past. In order to detect different levels of divergence, we extensively sampled in seed orchards and natural forests for D. abietella on different hosts. Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses confirmed the monophyly of the abietella species group and its separation into three clades. The grouping of North American species (Clade A) received strong support in both analyses, whereas relationships between Clade A and the two other European clades were weakly supported. D. simplicella Heinemann could not be unambiguously separated from D. abietella populations. The diverse haplotypes observed in the network analysis conducted with eight populations of polyphagous D. abietella suggested the presence of two distinct lineages in France.

Evolutionary relationships within EuropeanMonochamus(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) highlight the role of altitude in species delineation

“…Introduction of the barcoding theory by Hebert et al . () was meant to give a universal solution to the need for stabilized taxonomic criteria, although recent studies prove that it should be interpreted with caution and in combination with additional data sources such as morphology and geography or, when these are not available, other gene regions and ecology should be included (DeSalle et al ., ; Roux‐Morabito et al ., ; Taylor & Harris, ).…”

Biology and management of North American cone-feedingDioryctriaspecies

“…Continuing uncertainties about species limits have complicated the ecological literature on Dioryctria (Hedlin et al 1980;Sopow et al 1996;Du et al 2005). Recent molecular and morphological studies (Du et al 2005;Roe et al 2006;Roe and Sperling 2007;Roux-Morabito et al 2008) have begun to clarify the relationships among species within this genus. Continued research on the systematics and life history of Dioryctria will enhance the development of integrated pest management programs for these important pests of conifers (Sopow et al 1996;Roe et al 2006;Roux-Morabito et al 2008).…”

(3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)‐pentacosapentaene and (9Z,11E)‐tetradecadienyl acetate: sex pheromone of the spruce coneworm Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…Historically, there has been considerable confusion regarding the taxonomy and the phylogenetic relationships of the >70 described species within the genus Dioryctria because many taxa are notoriously difficult to distinguish on the basis of morphology. However, recent work has established robust phylogenetic relationships within several species groups (Du et al 2005; Roux‐Morabito et al 2008). Genetic analyses of the abietella group confirmed that D. abietivorella and D. abietella are distinct species (Roux‐Morabito et al 2008) as Munroe (1959) hypothesized based on external characters.…”

“…However, recent work has established robust phylogenetic relationships within several species groups (Du et al 2005; Roux‐Morabito et al 2008). Genetic analyses of the abietella group confirmed that D. abietivorella and D. abietella are distinct species (Roux‐Morabito et al 2008) as Munroe (1959) hypothesized based on external characters. In addition, European species of the abietella group clustered into two groups: D. mendacella Staudinger and D. pineae Staudinger, occurring in the Mediterranean region, and D. abietella and D. simplicella Heinemann (= D. mutatella Fuchs), with a more northern European distribution.…”