Genetic Variation in Neodiprion (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Diprionidae) Sawflies and a Comment on Low Levels of Genetic Diversity within the Hymenoptera

Abstract

Starch-gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the biochemical genetics of seven species of Neodiprion sawflies and the confamilial Diprion similis (Hartig). Interspecific Rogers' distance coefficients ranged from 0.14 to 0.74. Cladistic and phenetic cluster algorithms are consistent regarding interspecific relationships. Average genetic diversity values do not differ from those in the literature for vertebrate groups, Crustacea, or other hymenopterans. The sawfly heterozygosity value (0.06) differs significantly from those of insects excluding hymenopterans and Drosophila (0.10), and from Drosophila (0.12). Small effective population sizes and inbreeding may account for much of the difference.