Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 24, 2005
Publication Date: February 24, 2005
Citation: Scheffer, S.J. Molecular phylogenetics and biology of the galling flies fergusoninidae (diptera), america's newest fly family. Meeting Abstract. North Carolina University, Raleigh, seminar. 1:02/24/2005
Technical Abstract:
Fergusoninid flies form galls on plants in the Myrtaceae in association with nematode worms. Phylogenetic analysis of of 30 species of gall-forming Fergusonina was performed using DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene. The evolution of host specialization, host-switching, and gall location was investigated. Coevolution in the form of cocladogenesis was investigated for a subset of fly and worm species. Fergusonina turneri has recently been approved for release in Florida as a biological control agent for the invasive paperbark tree Melaleuca quinquenervia.
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