Molecular identification of Asphondylia prosopidis complex (Cecidomyiidae: Diptera) in the Southwestern U.S

The Asphondylia prosopidis complex produces four distinct bud galls on Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa ). Flies within this gall midge complex are being considered as potential biological agents to reduce Mesquite seed production in South Africa. Before exporting this insect to South Africa, it is important to understand the relationship between members in the complex. Adult and larval specimens from the different bud galls have been considered one species due to morphological similarities. In this study, 642 bp of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was used to evaluate the molecular relationships. Samples were collected in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in 2007 and 2008. Bootstrap values of each group from the neighbor joining (NJ) tree suggests at least two or more groups may be either new or undescribed species. Therefore, to confirm the identifications of the cryptic species from the mitochondrial DNA, nuclear gene analysis will be completed and combined with taxonomical and ecological data to better define the relationships within the Asphondylia prosopidis complex.