Phenogram Based on Allozymes and Its Relationship to Classical Biosystematics and Pheromone Structure among Eleven Diabroticites (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Gel electrophoretic techniques were used to resolve allozymes representing nine known or putative genetic loci for Acalymma blandulum LeConte; Paranapiacaba tricincta (Say); Diabrotica balteata LeConte; D. barberi Smith & Lawrence; D. cristata (Harris); D. lemniscata LeConte; D. longicornis (Say); D. undecimpunctata howardi Barber; D. virgifera virgifera LeConte; D. virgifera zeae Krysan & Smith; and D. sp., an undescribed species from Mexico. The Rogers's (modified) indices of genetic distance paralleled closely the relationships expected from existing taxonomic classifications. A phenogram constructed from the Rogers's distances indicated the following relationships: the species from two established groups of Diabrotica formed cohesive clusters; D. barberi, D. cristata, and D. longicornis, three species with Nearctic origins, are closely related; D. barberi and D. virgifera occupy the corn field habitat by convergence; the response of males to stereoisomers of sex attractants is evolutionarily plastic; and premating isolation mechanisms are stronger among closely related sympatric species than among more distantly related allopatric species.