Structured populations of the oriental fruit moth in an agricultural ecosystem

Intercontinental trade has led to multiple introductions of invasive pest species at a global scale. Molecular analyses of the structure of populations support the understanding of ecological strategies and evolutionary patterns that promote successful biological invasions. The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita (=Cydia) molesta, is a cosmopolitan and economically destructive pest of stone and pome fruits, expanding its distribution range concomitantly with global climate warming. We used ten newly developed polymorphic microsatellite markers to examine the genetic structure of G. molesta populations in an agricultural ecosystem in the Emilia‐Romagna region of northern Italy. Larvae collected in eight sampling sites were assigned to a mosaic of five populations with significant intra‐regional structure. Inferred measures of gene flow within populations implicated both active dispersal, and passive dispersal associated with accidental anthropogenic displacements. Small effective population sizes, coupled with high inbreeding levels, highlighted the effect of orchard management practices on the observed patterns of genetic variation within the sampling sites. Isolation by distance did not appear to play a major role at the spatial scale considered. Our results provide new insights into the population genetics and dynamics of an invasive pest species at a regional scale.     

LEISHMANIASIS ENTOMOLOGICAL FIELD STUDIES: ETHICAL ISSUES

Occupational health remains neglected in developing countries because of competing social, economic and political challenges. Ethical issues in the workplace related to the hazards and risks of becoming infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana , through the bite of naturally infected sand flies, is another area of concern that has been neglected as well. We report here the results of reviewing two entomological field studies carried out in our research center from 2003 to 2006. Eight students from our School of Biology were invited to catch sand flies. A total of six of the eight (75%) developed a typical clinical picture of Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (LCL) caused by L. (L.) mexicana . In this article we identify the ethical issues related to these kinds of studies and propose some guidelines for conducting them.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Grapsidae; Decapoda; Brachyura)

Seven polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the grapsid crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus using FIASCO (fast isolation by AFLP of sequences containing repeats) protocol. Twenty‐seven primer pairs were designed, 14 of which worked well in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplifying a fragment of the expected size. Variability was tested in 18 specimens collected along the coast of Tuscany (Italy). Five loci were discarded due to stutter products during their amplification, and two resulted to be monomorphic. The remaining seven loci, showed a number of alleles ranging from two to 14 and an observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.12 to 0.67.     

Host selection,oviposition behaviour and leaf traits in a specialist willow sawfly on species of Salix (Salicaceae)

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