Laboratory hybridization between the two clades of Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

We conducted mating experiments between two clades of the pea leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis, i.e., California Clade (CC) and South America Clade (SC). Development times from egg to pupa and egg to adult at 25°C of the two clades and the hybrid progeny were compared. In the interclade mating cross, adult hybrid progenies were obtained only from matings between CC females and SC males. The number of hybrid progeny was quite smaller than those from combinations of the same clade. Furthermore, no F2 progeny was obtained from matings between F1 hybrid progenies. CC progeny required more development times from egg to pupa and egg to adult at 25°C than SC and hybrid progeny. Our biological data indicated that the two clades of L. huidobrensis were different species, as indicated by their molecular characters in previous studies.