Mathenge, C.W., Holford, P., Hoffmann, J.H., Zimmermann, H.G., Spooner-Hart, R.N., & Beattie, G.A.C. 2010 Hybridization between Dactylopius tomentosus (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) biotypes and its effects on host specificity.. Bulletin of Entomological Research 100: 1-8

Notes: Abstract Dactylopius tomentosus is composed of biotypes adapted to different Cylindropuntia species. One biotype is an important biological control agent of C. imbricata in South Africa while another has the potential for the control of C. fulgida var. fulgida. These two weed species occur in sympatry in some areas of South Africa, so the introduction of the second biotype could result in hybridization, which, in turn, could impact on the biological control programs through altered host specificity and fitness of the hybrids. To anticipate what might happen, reciprocal crosses were made between the two biotypes, and the biological performance of the resultant hybrids was compared with that of each parental lineage on C. imbricata and C. f. var. fulgida. The biotypes interbred freely and reciprocally in the laboratory. Comparisons of crawler and adult female traits showed differences in performance that were dependent on the origin of the maternal and paternal genomes. However, when all traits were combined into a ‘fitness index’, both hybrids clearly outperformed the parental lineages. The increase in fitness shown by the hybrids over their maternal lineage was greater on the alternative host of the maternal parent than on the natural host of the maternal parent. Therefore, in areas where the two cacti occur in sympatry, hybridization between the biotypes is not expected to be detrimental to the biological control of either weed. Keywords: interbreeding, reciprocal crossing, biotypes, host specificity, weed biocontrol Introduction Host specialization of insect populations to particular plant species results in the formation of subspecific groupings such as biotypes (Diehl & Bush, 1984). Biotypes that are adapted to one host may become maladapted to others, encouraging host fidelity and assortative mating, which may result in the formation of host races (Diehl & Bush, 1984).