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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 12/14/2003 Publication Date: 2/14/2005 Citation: Scheffer, S.J. 2005. Invasive Diptera: using molecular markers to investigate cryptic species and the global spread of flies. Book Chapter.1:1 Interpretive Summary: Invasive species are organisms that have been established in regions outside of their original ranges. Within the U.S., invasive species can have a devastating effect on both agricultural and natural resources, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in direct losses and management costs. Many insects are invasive species and are agricultural or forest pests. This manuscript reviews recent molecular research focused on invasive fly species. Some invasive flies, such as medflies, are important agricultural pests, while others, such as some drosophilids, are important because they serve as model systems, the study of which allows us to refine the methods that we use to study invasion processes. Special emphasis is placed on recent molecular research on delineating cryptic species and determining geographic origins of invasive leafmining flies. These flies are pests in the U.S. and around the world. This information will be of interest to entomologists, quarantine officials, pest managers, and evolutionary biologists. Technical Abstract: Information on invasive Diptera is reviewed including pathways of spread and molecular methods used to study invasive species. Invasive history of mosquitoes, drosophilids, medflies, and leafmining flies is discussed, with special emphasis being placed on recent molecular investigations of invasive leafminers. |
