Go west: Population genomics reveals unexpected population fluctuations and little gene flow in Western hemisphere populations of the predatory lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens.

ABSTRACT: Hippodamia convergens-the convergent lady beetle, has been used extensively in augmentative biological control of aphids, thrips, and whiteflies across its native range in North America, and was introduced into South America in the 1950s. Overwintering H. convergens populations from its native western range in the United States are commercially collected and released across its current range in the eastern USA, with little knowledge of the effectiveness of its augmentative biological control. Here we use a novel ddRADseq-based SNP/haplotype discovery approach to estimate its range-wide population diversity, differentiation, and recent evolutionary history. Our results indicate (1) significant population differentiation among eastern USA, western USA, and South American

SUBMITTER: Sethuraman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10810170 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature