Genetic structure and phylogeography of pine shoot beetle populations (Tomicus destruens and T. piniperda, Coleoptera Scolytidae) in Italy

Tomicus are among the most dangerous pine pests. In this paper we assess the genetic structure of some Italian Tomicus populations, and the possible sympatry of T. destruens and T. piniperda. A fragment 358 bp long of the mitochondrial DNA relative to the COI was investigated in eight populations by SSCP analyses and sequencing. In the sampled populations T. destruens and T. piniperda were not found to be sympatric. T. destruens populations of southern and central Italy strongly differ from a population of northern Italy. The phylogeographic analysis of T. destruens populations in Europe is geographically structured, probably due to the fragmentation of the host pine ranges. The populations of T. piniperda are polymorphic, with haplotypes occurring also in Europe and Asia. T. piniperda populations seem to be genetically unstructured because of both the continuous distribution area of its main host (Pinus sylvestris) and the international trade of pine timber. mtDNA / SSCP / Scolytidae / pine / phylogeography Rsum -Structure gntique et phylogographie des populations de Tomicus destruens et T. piniperda (Coleoptera Scolytidae) en Italie. Le genre Tomicus figure parmi les espces les plus dangereuses pour les forts de pins. La structure gntique de huit populations italiennes de T. destruens et T. piniperda a t tudie, ainsi que la sympatrie possible des deux espces. Un fragment de 358 pb de l'ADN mitochondrial relatif au COI a t amplifi, squenc et soumis une analyse par SSCP. Aucun cas de sympatrie n'a t observ entre T. destruens et T. piniperda. Les populations de T. destruens d'Italie mridionale et centrale sont trs diffrentes d'une population d'Italie du Nord. T. destruens montre une structuration gographique probablement lie la distribution fragmente des pins htes. Par contre, les populations de T. piniperda sont trs polymorphes, sans doute cause de la distribution continue de son principal hte, le pin sylvestre, ainsi qu'au commerce international de bois.