Molecular Identification of Diaspididae and Elucidation of Non-Native Species Using the Genes 28s and 16s

Alexander M Campbell; Andrew J Lawrence; Caleb B Hudspath; Matthew E Gruwell

doi:10.3390/insects5030528

Molecular Identification of Diaspididae and Elucidation of Non-Native Species Using the Genes 28s and 16s

Insects. 2014 Jul 3;5(3):528-38. doi: 10.3390/insects5030528.

Authors

Alexander M Campbell¹, Andrew J Lawrence², Caleb B Hudspath³, Matthew E Gruwell⁴

Affiliations

¹ Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, 4701 College Dr, Erie, PA 16563, USA. amc463@psu.edu.
² Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, 4701 College Dr, Erie, PA 16563, USA. ajl5131@psu.edu.
³ Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, 4701 College Dr, Erie, PA 16563, USA. caleb.hudspath@rvu.edu.
⁴ Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, 4701 College Dr, Erie, PA 16563, USA. meg26@psu.edu.

Abstract

Armored scale insects pose a serious threat to habitat conservation across the globe because they include some of the most potent invasive species in the world. They are such a serious concern because their basic morphology, small size, and polyphagous feeding habits often allow them to exist undetected by growers and quarantine experts. In order to provide a potential solution to the problem, we have attempted to elucidate the effectiveness of molecular identification techniques using ribosomal 28s and endosymbiotic 16s rRNA. Sequence data was obtained from many field-collected insects to test the feasibility of identification techniques. A protocol for quick species determination based on sequence data is provided.

Keywords: Diaspididae; armored scale insects; cryptic species; invasive species; molecular barcoding; phylogenetics.