Genetic Similarities Among Natural Populations of the Horn Fly (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

Starch-gel electrophoretic techniques were used to assess genetic variability from nine Haematobia irritans (L.) populations representing the North American range and Hawaii. Twenty-four zones of enzyme activity were studied. All populations showed high polymorphism with mean percent polymorphic zones of 0.407 ± 0.045 (x ± SD) and mean heterogeneity per zone of 0.143 ± 0.011; the configuration of electromorph frequencies for each zone was stable among all populations. Genetic identities among populations was 0.989 ± 0.007. Based on high genetic similarities and lack of significant differentiation among populations, there appear to be no barriers to gene flow among these populations.