Vieites-Blanco, C., Paulo, O.S., Marabuto, E., & Lema, M. 2020 Genetic variability on worldwide populations of the scale insect Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi. Biological invasions 22: 735–748
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Notes: To test the efficiency and host range of insects used for biocontrol, population genetic studies can help to unravel cryptic complexes and intraspecific diversity. In this study we performed a genetic analysis including native and exotic populations of Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi. The exotic populations of the insect did not show any variability among populations for both studied genes, which suggest a common origin of all studied introduced populations. Contrastingly, native populations showed high variability and seemed to be a cryptic species complex. An endosymbiont of P. mesembryanthemi was detected, and the sequenced coxA gene was similar to that of the Rickettsiaceae family from the a-Proteobacteria, and close to other insect endosymbionts.
