Genetic variation in populations of the blowflies Lucilia cuprina and Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and mitochondrial DNA sequences

Abstract

Intraspecific genetic variation in two species of calliphorid blowfly, Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina, was studied by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing. These species are economically important facultative ectoparasites of sheep. Numerical analysis of RAPD fragment data was used to investigate genetic variation in L. sericata across Europe and in both L. sericata and L. cuprina worldwide. No evidence of genetic isolation within L. sericata was observed, despite the geographic separation of the populations studied. This finding was supported by a lack of variation in mtDNA sequences from a corresponding global sample of L. sericata. For L. cuprina distinct patterns of genetic variation, possibly related to geographical isolation, were detected in the RAPD data and the mtDNA sequences. However, while relationships between groups of L. cuprina defined by the two molecular methods were largely in agreement, at least one conflicting result was obtained. The significance of such conflict is explored.