Variation in efficiency and genetic composition of stink bug parasitoids ovipositing in three insect-hosts on three host-plants

Since the boll weevil eradication program, there has been a rise in secondary cotton pests, such as the green stinkbug (Acrosternum hilare), in several US states. The green stinkbug is a generalist species occurring not only in cotton but also in several other crop and non-crop plants. However, it is unknown if the same individual would be able to occur in all the plants reported as hosts or only occur on one or few of its reported host plants. If individuals of the same species are specializing on different host-plants there is potential for them to become reproductively isolated. Reproductive isolation may lead to genetically distinct host-associated populations; this phenomenon is known as Host Associated Differentiation (HAD). Pests showing HAD may differ in traits relevant to their control when on different hosts. Thus, identifying HAD is necessary to effectively implement pest management strategies. Few examples of HAD have been documented in Poaceae (e.g., rice, corn, sugarcane) and in orchards (e.g., apples, pecans). It is currently unknown how common HAD is in agro-ecosystems. In cotton, HAD has been reported in aphids and in a Mirid. The present study uses AFLP markers to present data on HAD on a stinkbug species occurring in cotton and several wild hosts.