The evolution of Hessian fly from the Old World to the New World: Evidence from molecular markers

Eighteen polymorphic microsatellite loci and 11 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in 1 095 individual Hessian fly specimens representing 23 populations from North America, southern Europe, and southwest Asia. The genotypes were used to assess genetic diversity and interrelationship of Hessian fly populations. While phylogenetic analysis indicates that the American populations most similar to Eurasian populations come from the east coast of the United States, genetic distance is least between (Alabama and California) and (Kazakhstan and Spain). Allelic diversity and frequency vary across North America, but they are not correlated with distance from the historically documented point of introduction in New York City or with temperature or precipitation. Instead, the greatest allelic diversity mostly occurs in areas with Mediterranean climates. The microsatellite data indicate a general deficiency for heterozygotes in Hessian fly. The North American population structure is consistent with multiple introductions, isolation by distance, and human‐abetted dispersal by bulk transport of puparia in infested straw or on harvesting equipment.