Speciation in Thrips tabaci Lindeman, 1889 (Thysanoptera): the current state of knowledge and its consequences

Abstract

AbstractBased on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene,Thrips tabacihas been divided into three lineages: a tobacco-associated (T) and two leek-associated types (L1, L2). It is believed that the arrhenotokous leek-associated type (L1) is the ancient form ofT. tabaciand that the T type diverged from it and adapted to solanaceous host plants. The third lineage ofT. tabaci, the so-called thelytokous leek-associated type (L2) and the L1 form share many host plants. According to a recent study, the L2 form ofT. tabacicould outcompete the L1 type on cabbage plants; it might therefore be more accurate to identify it as the thelytokous cabbage-associated type.