Chemical ecology of cryptic species of Eccritotarsus catarinensis (Carvalho) (Hemiptera: Miridae), biological control agents of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Student: Sandiso Mnguni (g15M0083)Supervisors: Dr ULP Heshula, Dr I Paterson & Prof J Coetzee

Invasoras.pt

Biology and History

• Colour and size, life cycle & mode of feeding• Release sites and number of generations

• 2 populations: Brazil (native) and Peru (native; records highest elevation, genetic variability and diversity)– Interbreed for genetic variation

Invasive.org

Background

5.2 haplotype sequence divergence

R. Mangan Unpublished dataB= BrazilP= Peruf= femalem= male

Project Aims and Prediction

• Interest: Bugs emit chemicals stored & synthesised in the metathoracic scent gland, comprising of simple esters that can be broken down into acids and aldehydes

• Prediction: The quantity and quality of pheromones produced by these mirids will differ significantly

Aim: To determine pheromone production of the two reproductively isolated cryptic species and established whether they played a role in the speciation of these mirids or there is a production of an anti-sex pheromone

Y-tube olfactometer

Gas Chromatography Mass-Spectrometry

en.wikipedia.org

Acknowledgements