Affiliation:
1. College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
2. Technology Center of Taiyuan Custom, Taiyuan 030006, China
3. Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou 034000, China
Abstract
Pseudaucalaspis pentagona and P. prunicola are notorious pests and commonly feed on various ornamental plants and fruit trees worldwide. The two species share many host-plant species, and are similar in morphological characteristics and life cycle, making it difficult to distinguish to distinguish between them. In this study, morphological characteristics, molecular evidence, and ecological niches were used to define these species. We performed PCA analysis on 22 morphological characteristics that allowed the delineation of the species. We then sequenced the COI gene of both species revealing five populations of P. pentagona and one population of P. prunicola, and the higher support rate could distinguish the two species. We also identified the potential distribution area of the two species based on the MaxEnt niche model, which showed that the degree of niche overlap was high, but that they occupied different niches. Ultimately, we combined three lines of evidence to show that the two species are distinctly different. This study supports species definition using combined morphology, genetics, and ecology and provides a theoretical basis for the effective control of these two pests in the future.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Science and Technology Innovation Funds of Shanxi Agricultural University
Excellent Doctoral Award of Shanxi Province for Scientific Research Project
Science and Technology Innovation Projects of Universities in Shanxi Province
Research Project Supported by Shanxi Scholarship Council of China
Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi, China
the Supported Innovation Project of College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University
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