Molecular diagnostics of LBAM: Species recognition and population structure

The utility of molecular methods for identification and pathway analysis of the light-brown apple moth in California is examined using DNA sequences of mitochondrial genes. Comparison of variation in the proposed barcode region of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) between light-brown apple moth and select tortricids of California supports the utility of a barcode for identification of immature moths. Alternative molecular methods of identification are discussed. Based on DNA sequences from California, the COI and COII genes exhibit sufficient variation within the species to be useful for population-level analysis. Evidence for likely geographic sources of the detected Californian LBAM population based on mitochondrial DNA is discussed.