Mitochondrial Dna Sequence Variation among Geographic Strains of Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

We examined genetic variation among 6 geographic strains of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), using 365 base pairs of the mitochondrial gene encoding cytochrome oxidase I (COI). No sequence variation was detected within 5 of the 6 strains; 1 strain contained 2 haplotypes that differed by a single base substitution (0.27%). Sequence differences between strains of diamondback moth from Hawaii, the Philippines, and Pennsylvania ranged from 0 to 0.82%. With one exception, base pair substitutions among strains resulted in synonymous codons and did not alter amino acid sequence. Genetic divergence between strains of diamondback moth was not correlated with geographic distances between t…