Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction and Arbitrary Primers to Distinguish Laboratory-Raised Colonies of Parasitic Hymenoptera

The polymerase chain reaction and short random primers have been utilized to obtain banding patterns that can be used as genetic markers suitable for species and strain identification in parasitic Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae). Five species of aphid parasitoids have been examined. They are Diaeretiella rapae, Aphidius matricariae, Aphidius picipes, Aphidius colemani, and Lysiphlebus testaceipes. Within D. rapae and A. matrzcariae, primers were found that produce banding patterns that can distinguish laboratory-reared colonies derived from collections at different geographic locations. DNA markers that differentiate populations of these insects could have immediate practical use in helping to monitor the success of release strains in biocontrol programs and the genetic purity of laboratory-reared strains. It may also be useful in identifying the immature stages of related species.