Addressing the red flags in cochineal identification: The use of molecular techniques to identify cochineal insects that are used as biological control agents for invasive alien cacti

van Steenderen, Clarke J M; Paterson, Iain D; Edwards, Shelley; Day, M D

Title: Addressing the red flags in cochineal identification: The use of molecular techniques to identify cochineal insects that are used as biological control agents for invasive alien cacti
Creator: van Steenderen, Clarke J M
Creator: Paterson, Iain D
Creator: Edwards, Shelley
Creator: Day, M D
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2021
Date: 2021
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/423282
Identifier: vital:72044
Identifier: xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2020.104426"
Description: Invasive Cactaceae cause considerable damage to ecosystem function and agricultural practices around the world. The most successful biological control agents used to combat this group of weeds belong to the genus Dactylopius (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), commonly known as ‘cochineal’. Effective control relies on selecting the correct species, or in some cases, the most effective intraspecific lineage, of cochineal for the target cactus species. Many of the Dactylopius species are so morphologically similar, and in the case of intraspecific lineages, identical, that numerous misidentifications have been made in the past. These errors have resulted in failed attempts at the biological control of some cactus species. This study aimed to generate a multi-locus genetic database to enable the accurate identification of dactylopiids. Genetic characterization was achieved through the nucleotide sequencing of three gene regions (12S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and COI) and two inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR). Nucleotide sequences were very effective for species-level and D. tomentosus lineage-level identification, but could not distinguish between the two lineages within D. opuntiae commonly used for biological control of various Opuntia spp. Fragment analysis through the use of ISSRs successfully addressed this issue. This is the first time that a method has been developed that can distinguish between these two D. opuntiae lineages. Using the methods developed in this study, biological control practitioners can ensure that the most effective agent species and lineages are used for each cactus target weed, thus maximizing the level of control.
Format: computer
Format: online resource
Format: application/pdf
Format: 1 online resource (10 pages)
Format: pdf
Publisher: Elsevier
Language: English
Relation: Biological Control
Relation: van Steenderen, C.J.M., Paterson, I.D., Edwards, S. and Day, M.D., 2021. Addressing the red flags in cochineal identification: The use of molecular techniques to identify cochineal insects that are used as biological control agents for invasive alien cacti. Biological control, 152, p.104426
Relation: Biological Control volume 152 p. 104426 2021 1090-2112
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Elsevier Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.elsevier.com/legal/elsevier-website-terms-and-conditions)
Rights: Closed Access

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Edwards, Shelley (Ms)

Paterson, Iain D (Associate Professor)

RU Department of Zoology and Entomology

RU DST/NRF SARChI for Insects in Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystems

SDG 15. Life On Land

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