Molecular assay to differentiate Liriomyza huidobrensis and L. langei
Observation of differences (crop preferences, levels of insecticide resistance) between populations of Lyriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae – EPPO A2 quarantine pest) have led to the assumption that L. huidobrensis could be composed of at least 2 cryptic species. On the basis of genetic studies, 2 cryptic species have been proposed: L. langei and L. huidobrensis (see EPPO RS 2001/016 and 2002/010). Although L. langei and L. huidobrensis cannot be distinguished morphologically, a PCR–RFPL assay has been developed to differentiate them. Preliminary studies showed that leafminer populations recently introduced into Sri Lanka, Canada* and South Africa belonged to L. huidobrensis.
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* The EPPO Secretariat had previously no data on the occurrence of L. huidobrensis in Canada.
Sources
Scheffer, S.J.; Wijesekara, A.; Visser, D.; Hallett, R.H. (2001) Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism method to distinguish Liriomyza huidobrensis from L. langei (Diptera: Agromyzidae) applied to three recent leafminer invasions.
Journal of Economic Entomology, 94(5), 177-1182.