Genetic variability of spined soldier bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) sampled from distinct field sites and laboratory colonies in the United States

The spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say), is an important biological control agent of agricultural and forest pests; and it preys on eggs and larvae of lepidopteran and coleopteran species. Genetic variability among field samples collected from Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Florida and established laboratory colonies was examined using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism-Polymerase Chain Reaction (AFLP-PCR). Four AFLP primer pairs generated a total of 340 molecular markers for evaluation. Results from Analysis of Molecular Variance showed that the majority of the genetic variation occurred within populations (individuals from each sample site). Nei’s method indicated reduced genetic diversity in laboratory populations compared to field populations. No major differences or deficiencies were apparent among the field samples from different areas or among the laboratory reared samples. We conclude that field populations are panmictic and laboratory reared spined soldier bug could be useful as biological control agents in the field. La chinche espinosa soldado, Podisus maculiventris (Say), es un agente de control biologico importante para plagas agricolas y forestales; esta depreda en huevos y larvas de especies de lepidopteros y coleopteros. La variabilidad genetica entre muestras de campo colectadas de Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri y Florida y de colonias establecidas en el laboratorio fue examinada usando Longitud del Fragmento de Polimorfismo Amplificado-Reaccion de la Cadena de Polimerasa (AFLP-PCR). Cuatro pares de primers para AFLP generaron marcadores moleculares para la evaluacion. Los analisis de varianza molecular mostraron que la mayoria de la variacion genetica se presento dentro de las poblaciones (individuos de cada sitio de muestreo). El metodo de Nei indico que existe diversidad genetica reducida en las poblaciones de laboratorio en comparacion con las poblaciones colectadas en campo. No se encontraron diferencias mayores o deficiencias entre las muestras de campo de diferentes ...