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Molecular markers reveal diversity in composition of Megastigmus Hymenoptera Megastigmidae from eucalypt galls943.30 kB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Molecular markers reveal diversity in composition of Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Megastigmidae) from eucalypt galls
Ecology and Evolution, Vol.10(20), pp.11565-11578
2020
Abstract
Since outbreaks of the invasive blue gum chalcids Leptocybe spp. began, the genus Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Megastigmidae) has been increasingly studied as containing potential biocontrol agents against these pests. Megastigmus species have been collected and described from Australia, the presumed origin of Leptocybe spp., with M. zvimendeli and M. lawsoni reported as Leptocybe spp. parasitoids established outside of Australia. Parasitic Megastigmus have been reported to occur locally in the Neotropics, Afrotropic, Palearctic, and Indomalaya biogeographic realms, and in many cases described as new to science. However, molecular tools have not been used in studying parasitic Megastigmus, and difficulties in morphological taxonomy have compromised further understanding of eucalypt-associated Megastigmus as well as the Megastigmus-Leptocybe association. In this study, we used molecular markers to study the species composition and phylogeny of Megastigmus collected from eucalypt galls in Australia and from Leptocybe spp. galls from South Africa, Kenya, Israel, China, and Vietnam. We record thirteen discrete species and a species complex associated with eucalypt galls. A summary of morphological characters is provided to assist morphological delimitation of the studied group. A phylogeny based on 28S rDNA identified species groups of importance to Leptocybe spp. biocontrol agents from four clades with nine species. Relationships between Megastigmus from eucalypt galls and their phytophagous congeners were unresolved. Further molecular work is needed to clarify the identity of many species.
Details
- Title
- Molecular markers reveal diversity in composition of Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Megastigmidae) from eucalypt galls
- Authors
- Ngoc Hoan Le (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research CentreHelen Nahrung (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research CentreJess A T Morgan (Author) - Department of Primary IndustriesSteven Ogbourne (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science and Engineering - LegacySimon Lawson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research Centre
- Publication details
- Ecology and Evolution, Vol.10(20), pp.11565-11578
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Date published
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.1002/ece3.6791
- ISSN
- 2045-7758
- Copyright note
- © 2020 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; USC Business School - Legacy; Forest Industries Research Centre; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99482299002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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