Sugarcane moth borers are a diverse group of species occurring in several genera, but predominately within the Noctuidae and Pyraloidea. They cause economic loss in sugarcane and other crops through damage to stems and stalks by larval boring. Partial sequence data from two mitochondrial genes, COII and 16S, were used to construct a molecular phylogeny based on 26 species from ten genera and six tribes. The Noctuidae were found to be monophyletic, providing molecular support for the taxonomy within this subfamily. However, the Pyraloidea are paraphyletic, with the noctuids splitting Galleriinae and Schoenobiinae from the Crambinae. This supports the separation of the Pyralidae and Crambinae, but does not support the concept of the incorporation of the Schoenobiinae in the Crambidae. Of the three crambine genera examined, Diatraea was monophyletic, Chilo paraphyletic, and Eoreuma was basal to the other two genera. Within the Noctuidae, Sesamia and Bathytricha were monophyletic, with Busseola basal to Bathytricha. Many species in this study (both noctuids and pyraloids) had different biotypes within collection localities and across their distribution; however the individual biotypes were not phylogenetically informative. These data highlight the need for taxonomic revisions at all taxon levels and provide a basis for the development of DNA-based diagnostics for rapidly identifying many species at any developmental stage. This ability is vital, as the species are an incursion threat to Australia and have the potential to cause significant losses to the sugar industry.
Abstract. This paper provides a review on lepidopteran stem borer pests of graminaceous crops in Asia and Indian Ocean Islands which have the potential to invade Australia. Information on the geographical distribution, host plants and potential of invading Australia is provided for 36 stem borer species. A literature review of all natural enemies of 18 key pest species is provided. A knowledge of possible biological control options is essential to determine which natural enemies are to be considered for introduction following an incursion. The Braconid, Cotesia fl avipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), stands out as a promising candidate for introduction into Australia following a borer incursion. Studies are currently being conducted on a native Cotesia species in Australia, which may be able to parasitize larvae of exotic borers, therefore minimizing the need for other parasitoids introductions.Résumé. Revue des foreurs de la canne à sucre et de leurs enemis naturels en Asie et dans les îles de l'Océan indien : une perspective australienne. Cet article passe en revue les lépidoptères foreurs de tiges de graminées cultivées en Asie et dans les îles de l'Océan Indien, et susceptibles d'envahir l'Australie. Des données sur la distribution géographique, les plantes hôtes et les espèces potentiellement invasives de l'Australie sont présentées pour 36 de ces espèces. Une revue bibliographique de tous les ennemis naturels associés à 18 ravageurs majeurs est fournie. Une telle connaissance des ennemies naturels est nécessaire au préalable afi n de proposer les agents biologiques nécessaires à introduire en cas d'invasion d'un ravageur exotique. Le Braconide Cotesia fl avipes Cameron (Hymenoptera : Braconidae), apparaît être comme un des candidats les plus prometteurs en cas d'une telle invasion. Des études sont actuellement conduites en Australie sur une espèce indigène de Cotesia qui serait capable de parasiter des larves de foreurs exotiques, ce qui réduirait la nécessité d'introduction de parasitoïdes eux-mêmes exotiques.
Abstract. The Cotesia fl avipes species complex of parasitic wasps are economically important worldwide for the biological control of lepidopteran stem borers. The complex currently comprises three species: Cotesia fl avipes Cameron, C. sesamiae (Cameron) and C. chilonis (Matsumura) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), which appear morphologically similar. Despite their economic importance, little is known about the genetic diversity and phylogeography of these parasitoids. Differences in the biology of geographic populations have generally been interpreted as genetic divergence among strains, but direct genetic evidence is lacking. In Australia, several stem borer pests in neighbouring countries have been identifi ed as signifi cant threats to the sugar industry. However, the status of C. fl avipes in Australia is unknown. To examine the genetic variation among worldwide populations of the C. fl avipes complex and investigate the status of the Australian C. fl avipes-like species, partial sequence data were generated for mitochondrial gene regions, 16S rRNA and COI. Parsimony, minimum evolution and Bayesian analyses based on 21 geographic populations of the complex and four outgroups supported the monophyly of the complex and the existence of genetically divergent populations of C. fl avipes and C. sesamiae. The geographically isolated Australian haplotypes formed a distinct lineage within the complex and were ~3.0% divergent from the other species. The results indicated that historical biogeographic barriers and recent biological control introductions play an important role in structuring lineages within these species. This study provides a phylogeographical context for examining adaptive evolution and host range within biologically divergent strains of the C. fl avipes complex.
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