GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG REPRESENTATIVE POPULATIONS OF FIVE CHORISTONEURA SPECIES: C. OCCIDENTALIS, C. RETINIANA, C. BIENNIS, C. LAMBERTIANA, AND C. FUMIFERANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Abstract

The genetic make-up of representative populations of five Choristoneura species was compared using starch gel electrophoresis. Species included C. occidentalis Freeman from Idaho, C. biennis Freeman from British Columbia, C. retiniana (Walsingham) (= C. viridis Freeman) from Oregon, C. lambertiana ponderosana Obraztsov from Colorado, and C. fumiferana (Clemens) from Maine. When variation at individual gene loci was examined, intraspecific variation was often as great, and sometimes greater, than interspecific variation and few significant differences were noted among the species. The highest levels of overall genetic similarity occurred among C. occidentalis, C. biennis, and C. retiniana. Relatively greater genetic distances were found between this group and C. lambertiana and C. fumiferana. C. fumiferana was most distantly related to all other groups. Genetic identity values fell within the range more commonly associated with conspecific populations rather than with separate species.