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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #392161
Research Project: Systematics of Beetles, Flies, Moths and Wasps with an Emphasis on Agricultural Pests, Invasive Species, Biological Control Agents, and Food Security

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Population structure and genetic diversity of the pepper weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) using the COI barcoding region

Author
item FERNADEZ, CATALINA - University Of Windsor
item VANLAERHOVEN, SHERAH - University Of Windsor
item RODRIGUEZ-LEYVA, ESTEBAN - University Of Mexico
item ZHANG, MILES - University Of Florida
item LABBE, ROSELYNE - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2022
Publication Date: 2/27/2022
Citation: Fernadez, C.D., Vanlaerhoven, S., Rodriguez-Leyva, E., Zhang, M.Y., Labbe, R. 2022. Population structure and genetic diversity of the pepper weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) using the COI barcoding region. Journal of Insect Science. 22(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieac012.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieac012

Interpretive Summary: Peppers are a multimillion dollar commodity in the US. Beetle pests attacking peppers can cause significant losses. This paper examines the genetic diversity of the pepper weevil in North America. This information is useful to farmers, extension agents, biocontrol workers, pest management professionals, and entomologists.

Technical Abstract: The pepper weevil Anthonomus eugeniiCano is a pest of economic importance for Capsicum species pepper in North America that attacks the reproductive structures of the plant. The insect is distributed across Mexico, the United States, and the Caribbean, and is occasionally found during the pepper growing season in southern Ontario, Canada. Continuous spread of the insect to new areas is partially the result of global pepper trade. Here, we describe the genetic diversity of the pepper weevil using the mitochondrial COI barcoding region across most of its geographic range. In this study, 44 (H1–H44) highly similar haplotypes were identified, the greatest number of haplotypes and haplotype diversity were observed among specimens from its native Mexico, followed by specimens from the United States. Unlike Mexico, a low haplotype diversity was found among specimens from Canada, the Dominican Republic, Italy and the Netherlands. Out of these 44 haplotypes, 29 are reported for the first time. Haplotype diversity in the Canadian population suggests either multiple and continuous introductions of the pepper weevil into this area or a single introduction of genetically diverse individuals. We discuss the importance of such population genetic data in tailoring pepper weevil management programs, using Canada as an example.