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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233254
Title: Genetic analyses of the Asian Longhorned Beetle (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Anoplophora, glabripennis), in North American, Europe and Asia

Author
item CARTER, MAUREEN - CORNELL UNIV ITHACA NY
item Smith, Michael
item HARRISON, RICHARD - CORNELL UNIV ITHACA NY

Submitted to: Biological Invasions
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/21/2009
Publication Date: 8/5/2009
Citation: Carter, M.E., Smith, M.T., Harrison, R.G. 2009. Genetic analyses of the Asian Longhorned Beetle (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Anoplophora, glabripennis), in North American, Europe and Asia. Biological Invasions. Available: http://www.springerlink.com/content/2g5523k674070820/.

Interpretive Summary: The Asian Longhorned Beetle is an outbreak pest of plantation forests in China and an important invasive insect in North America and Europe. To date, seven established populations have been discovered in North America. Central to the process whereby an invasive species is introduced, becomes establishment and then spreads, is a basic understanding of the seven ALB infestations. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine if and to what degree these populations are related. To conduct this study, genetic analysis was conducted on ALB collected from the seven populations in North America and from Europe. The data shows populations in New York, New Jersey and Toronto have limited genetic diversity compared to populations in China. Results suggests the infestations in New York, New Jersey, Toronto and at European sites resulted from separate introductions, and populations on Long Island were likely initiated by the movement of cut wood from New York City. Results from analysis of the beetles from the Chicago, California and European sites indicate that each of these populations resulted from the introduction of relatively few individuals and/or from beetles of limited geographic distribution in China. When ALB populations in China are matched with those in North America and Europe, these results will provide potential locations of ALB populations in China within which to search for species-specific natural enemies that will be among the most effective for biological control of ALB in North America and Europe.

Technical Abstract: The Asian Longhorned Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is an outbreak pest of wind-breaks and plantation forests in China and an important invasive pest species in North America and Europe. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA sequence data of invasive populations of A. glabripennis in North America and Europe, and microsatellite allele frequency data of beetles from North America. The data shows populations in New York, New Jersey and Toronto have limited genetic diversity compared to populations in China. The data suggests separate introduction events were responsible for populations in New York, New Jersey, Toronto and at European sites, and populations on Long Island were likely initiated by the movement of cut wood from New York City. Beetles from Chicago, California and European sites have greater genetic diversity which might indicate invasive populations undergo bottlenecks resulting in further reductions in population variation.