Populations of introduced species are characterized by small initial populations with low genetic diversity. It is especially puzzling why some introduced species are so successful since population bottlenecks are thought to limit the ability of species to adapt to novel conditions. Phytophagous species, in particular, have the challenge of synchronizing their phenology with that of their host plant. We studied diapause variation of the walnut husk fly, Rhagoletis completa (Diptera: Tephritidae), which was introduced into California in the early 1900’s and now attacks wild and agricultural walnuts from California to Washington. We exposed native and introduced populations to overwintering temperatures schemes characteristic of Midwest and California. Populations were genotyped using several microsatellite primers, and introduced populations were found to be less diverse than native populations.
Species 1: Diptera Tephritidae Rhagoletis completa (walnut husk fly)
Keywords: introduced species, diapause
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