Limited Gene Flow AmongCydia pomonella(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Populations in Two Isolated Regions in China: Implications for Utilization of the SIT

Abstract

Abstract Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a highly invasive species, recently became established in the Hexi Corridor, which is a long narrow passage area with many oases surrounded by deserts and tall mountains in Gansu province, China. The corridor is an important temperate fruit growing region in northwestern China as well as a natural barrier to prevent C. pomonella from invading other fruit growing areas of the country. Since the codling moth was firstly reported, pome fruit damage in this corridor has been severe. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is considered a possible effective control tactic for integration in a future area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) program against C. pomonella in the corridor. Knowledge of population genetics and more specifically of genetic differentiation and gene flow patterns may be important for developing AW-IPM strategies that include the SIT. In the current study, we collected C. pomonella samples from 8 populations distrib...