A comparative study of interspecies mating of Phratora vulgatissima and P. vitellinae using behavioural tests and molecular markers

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Peacock, L., Batley, J., Dungait, J. A. J., Barker, J. H. A., Powers, S. J. and Karp, A. 2004. A comparative study of interspecies mating of Phratora vulgatissima and P. vitellinae using behavioural tests and molecular markers. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 110 (3), pp. 231-241. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0013-8703.2004.00143.x

AuthorsPeacock, L., Batley, J., Dungait, J. A. J., Barker, J. H. A., Powers, S. J. and Karp, A.
Abstract

The leaf beetle genus Phratora L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) has been used to study the ecology of host plant chemicals in herbivore preference, and the evolution of host use in chemical defence. Phratora vulgatissima and P. vitellinae are sympatric species distributed widely across Europe. Their trophic niches are largely separate due to strong differences in their host feeding preference, but they have occasionally been recorded together, feeding on Salix burjatica‘Germany’ and, only in early spring, on Populus trichocarpa (Torr & A. Gray) ‘Trichobel’. Using behavioural tests and recently developed species‐specific microsatellite markers, the intra‐ and interspecific mating of both beetle species were investigated. The microsatellite markers provided evidence that interspecific mating occurred under field conditions. Interspecific mating also took place under laboratory conditions, but less frequently than mating within species. Females of both species laid fewer eggs, and fewer eggs per clutch, when isolated with an interspecific male than with a conspecific male. Female P. vulgatissima were polyandrous, as microsatellite markers showed that their larvae were the progeny of both P. vulgatissima males that had been isolated with a single female. While only 0.55% of eggs laid in interspecific pair combinations hatched, microsatellite markers provided evidence of hybridisation between beetle species; however, these larvae died within a week when reared in a Petri dish containing ‘Germany’ and P. trichocarpa leaves. It can therefore be inferred that reproductive isolation is complete. The results are discussed in relation to species integrity and the implications for diverse mixtures of short‐rotation coppice willow plantations.

KeywordsChrysomelidae
Year of Publication2004
JournalEntomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Journal citation110 (3), pp. 231-241
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0013-8703.2004.00143.x
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or code431
508
Project: 4363
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online05 Mar 2004
Publication process dates
Accepted03 Dec 2003
Copyright licensePublisher copyright
ISSN0013-8703
Publisher

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