Aspidiotus nerii, Bouchè (=hederae Vallot), the oleander scale presents an excellent opportunity for investigating the molecular systematics of lower level insect taxa. There is strong evidence of sexual and parathenogenic reproduction within this species. Since morphological evidence between these sexual and asexual lineages has so far has failed to show any consistent morphological differences between races (Gerson and Hazan, 1979) I will present a molecular systematic investigation to answer the question: Is Aspidiotus nerii a complex of multiple biotypes of sexual and asexual lineages within a single species?
Species 1: Homoptera Diaspididae Aspidiotus nerii (oleander scale, ivy scale)
Keywords: Scale insects, diaspididae
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA