title: Molecular and morphological differentiation betweenAphis gossypiiGlover (Hemiptera, Aphididae) and related species, with particular reference to the North American Midwest.
abstract: The cotton aphid,Aphis gossypii, is one of the most biologically diverse species of aphids; a polyphagous species in a family where most are host specialists. It is economically important and belongs to a group of closely related species that has challenged aphid taxonomy. The research presented here seeks to clarify the taxonomic relationships and status of species within theAphid gossypiigroup in the North American Midwest. Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI), nuclear elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α), and nuclear sodium channel para-type (SCP) genes were used to differentiate betweenAphid gossypiiand related species.Aphis monardae, previously synonymised withAphid gossypii, is re-established as a valid species. Phylogenetic analyses support the close relationship of members of theAphid gossypiigroup native to North America (Aphid forbesi,Aphid monardae,Aphid oestlundi,Aphid rubifolii, andAphid rubicola), Europe (Aphid nasturtii,Aphid urticataandAphid sedi), and Asia (Aphid agrimoniae,Aphid clerodendri,Aphid glycines,Aphid gossypii,Aphid hypericiphaga,Aphid ichigicola,Aphid ichigo,Aphid sanguisorbicola,Aphid sumireandAphid taraxicicola). The North American species most closely related toAphid gossypiiareAphid monardaeandAphid oestlundi. The cosmopolitanAphid gossypiiandAphid sediidentified in the USA are genetically very similar using COI and EF1-α sequences, but the SCP gene shows greater genetic distance between them. We present a discussion of the biological and morphological differentiation of these species.
authors.affiliation: Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1816 S Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820 USA.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lagos-Kutz
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal, Department of Biological Sciences, Biodiversity Centre, 4101 rue Sherbrooke est, Montreal QC, H1X 2B2, Canada.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Favret
authors.affiliation: Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1816 S Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820 USA.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.affiliation: Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1816 S Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820 USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Voegtlin
keywords: Aphid; host plant; morphology; phylogeny; sequence divergence; status novus