Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the fruit tree weevil Naupactus xanthographus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): cross-amplification in related species of the Naupactus-Pantomorus complex

Abstract

The Naupactus Dejean and Pantomorus Schoenherr genera (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Naupactini) are naturally distributed in the Neotropical region, having their highest diversity in the tropical and subtropical areas of South America (Lanteri and O’Brien 1990; Lanteri and Morrone 1995). Naupactus is usually associated with trees and shrubs environments, where the adults feed on leaves and other green parts of the plants, whereas Pantomorus species are mostly distributed in steppes and prairies, feeding on grasses (Lanteri et al. 2002a,b). Some of the latter are apomictic parthenogens and have been introduced in continents besides South America, becoming serious agricultural pests (Lanteri and Normark 1995; Hardwick et al. 1997; Normark and Lanteri 1998; Mander et al. 2003; Scataglini et al. 2005). Naupactus xanthographus occurs in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and has been introduced in Chile. It is considered as an important pest of grapevines and fruit trees in Chile since 1944, but it was between 1960 and 1970, when it became a pest of first order for these agricultural products (Elgueta 1993). Besides damage in the field, N. xanthographus faeces affect the quality of the grapes for