Species diagnosis and phylogeny of the Ips grandicollis group
The Ips grandicollis species group consists of 7 morphologically similar species: I. cribricollis, I. confusus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest), I. grandicollis (EPPO A1 quarantine pest), I. hoppingi, I. lecontei (EPPO A1 quarantine pest), I. montanus, and I. paraconfusus. The validity of these species has been confirmed through mating experiments, and identification can be inferred from geographic range and host plants. However, some of these species are sympatric and their identification can be difficult. In USA, a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique has been developed and gave a diagnostic DNA banding pattern for each species. The authors felt that this diagnostic method could be particularly useful in areas where these Ips species are sympatric. In addition, phylogenetic studies have also been carried by using RAPD products and confirmed previous relationships established between these Ips species based on allozyme frequencies.
Sources
Cognato, A.I.; Rogers, S.O.; Teale, S.A. (1995) Species diagnosis and phylogeny of the Ips grandicollis group (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA.
Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 88(4), 397-405.