Host races in the larch
budmoth Zeiraphera diniana
We have been investigating distinct "host races"
of a forest pest, the larch budmoth Zeiraphera
diniana. Each host race feeds on a different coniferous tree species,
and the races appear to be in the process of speciation. Igor Emelianov,
Michele Drès and I are estimating the rate of gene flow between the host
races, and mapping genetic loci which keep the two forms separate and are therefore,
in a sense, genes for speciation.
Further
details (summary of research)
Promiscuous
butterflies [and moths] cross leaky "species boundary" (BBSRC news &
Events)
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