Abstract
Species belonging to two genera of leafroller moths have been shown to exhibit considerable variation in sex-pheromones. Six different pheromone types have been described, three each belonging to Planotortrix excessana and Ctenopseustis obliquana. We report here the existence of homozygous genotypes in wild-caught individuals and that no heterozygous genotypes for any of the presumptive genetic loci were recorded, despite electrophoresis of 820 individuals belonging to two pheromone types of P. excessana and 781 moths belonging to the two pheromone types of C. obliquana. This is particularly significant given that more than 500 individuals of each pair were collected from areas of sympatry. Hence these data unequivocally support the specific status of P. excessana pheromone type A and type B&C and C. obliquana type I&III and type II. A further study of 30 presumptive genetic loci of these pheromonally-distinct cryptic species reveals considerable differences in allele frequencies at other loci and shows that within pheromonal types there is a remarkable stability in gene frequencies, with little clinal variation. The variation within pheromone types that does exist results largely from regionally-distinct populations which are either geographically isolated, or subject to a range of human disturbances. The bulk of the total genetic variation within the taxonomically-described entities is among the pheromonally-distinct species. The question of the specific status of two pheromonally-distinct but allopatric populations is addressed, and it is suggested that genetic data cannot unequivocally resolve the specific status of such groups.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Comparini, A, and Biasiolo, A. 1991. Genetic discrimination of the Italian bee, Apis mellifera ligustica versus Carniolan bee, Apis mellifera carnice by allozyme variability analysis. Biochem Syst Ecol, 19, 189–194.
Dugdale, J S. 1966. A new genus for the “elusive Tortrix” (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae). N Z J Sci, 9, 391–398.
Dugdale, J S. 1990. Reassessment of Ctenopseustis Meyrick and Planotortrix Dugdale with descriptions of two new genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). N Z J Zool, 17, 437–465.
Eber, S, Sturm, P, and Brandl, R. 1991. Genetic and morphological variation among biotypes of Tephritis bardanae. Biochem Syst Ecol, 19, 549–557.
Foster, S P, Clearwater, J R, and Muggleston, S J. 1989. Intra-specific variation of two components in the sex pheromone gland of a Planotortrix excessana sibling species. J Chem Ecol, 15, 457–465.
Foster, S P, Clearwater, J R, Muggleston, S J, Dugdale, J S, and Roelofs, W L. 1986. Probable sibling species complexes within two described New Zealand leafroller moths. Naturwissenschaften, 73, 156–158.
Foster, S P, Clearwater, J R, Muggleston, S J, and Shaw, P W. 1990. Sex pheromone of a Planotortrix excessana sibling species and reinvestigation of related species. J Chem Ecol, 16, 2461–2474.
Foster, S P, Dugdale, J S, and White, C S. 1991. Sex pheromones and the status of greenheaded and brownheaded leafroller moths in New Zealand. N Z J Zool, 18, 63–74.
Foster, S P, and Roelofs, W L. 1987. Sex pheromone differences in populations of the brownheaded leafroller, Ctenopseustis obliquana. J Chem Ecol, 13, 623–629.
Galbreath, R A, Benn, M H, Young, H, and Holt, V A. 1985. Sex pheromone components in New Zealand greenheaded leafroller Planotortrix excessana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Z Naturforsch, 40C, 266–271.
Green, C A, Gass, R F, Munstermann, L E, and Baimai, V. 1990. Population-genetic evidence for two species of Anopheles minimus in Thailand. Med Vet Entomol, 4, 25–34.
Lambert, D M, Michaux, B, and White, C S. 1987. Are species self-defining? Syst Zool, 36, 196–205.
Lambert, D M, and Spencer, H G. 1995. Speciation and the Recognition Concept: Theory and Application. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
McEvey, S. 1992. The Recognition Concept of Species. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
Paterson, H E. 1985. The recognition concept of species. In: Vrba, E. S. (ed.) Species and Speciation, pp. 21–29. Transvaal Museum Monograph No. 4, Transvaal Museum, Pretoria.
Richardson, B J, Baverstock, P J, and Adams, M. 1986. Allozyme Electrophoresis: A Handbook for Animal Systematics and Population Studies. Academic Press, Sydney.
Steck, G J. 1991. Bichemical systematics and population genetic structure of Anastrepha fraterculus and related species (Diptera: Tephritidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am, 84, 10–28.
White, C S, and Lambert, D M. 1994. Genetic differences among pheromonally distinct New Zealand leafroller moths. Biochem Syst Ecol, 22, 329–339.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
White, C., Lambert, D. Genetic continuity within, and discontinuities among, populations of leafroller moths with distinct sex-pheromones. Heredity 75, 243–255 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1995.132
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1995.132