Phylogeography, evolution and cryptic diversity of pine-feeding Chionaspis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) across North America

Currently there are thought to be two species of pine feeding Chionaspis, C. pinifoliae and C. heterophyllae, both of which are pests native to North America. We have collected Chionaspis scale insects from nearly every species of pine in the Western Hemisphere. We have sequenced 2,400bp of DNA for over 325 individuals including one mitochondrial and two nuclear gene regions (CO1-CO2, Ef1-a, 28s). Phylogenetic analyses reveals high levels of haplotype diversity, especially in Mexico and the Western U.S.. Gene geneologies are to some extent congruent across loci, implying the presence of cryptic species. There is one apparent case of closely related sympatic cryptic species feeding on different hosts: Chionaspis feeding on Pinus strobus differs at all three loci from sympatric Chionaspis feeding on other species of pine.