DIFFERENTIATION OF THE ENDEMIC NEW-ZEALAND GREENHEADED AND BROWNHEADED LEAFROLLER MOTHS BY RESTRICTION FRAGMENT LENGTH VARIATION IN THE RIBOSOMAL GENE-COMPLEX

This study identified markers in the ribosomal RNA gene complex (rDNA) and evaluated their utility in the differentiation of four endemic Ne w Zealand species of leafroller moth, Planotortrix excessana (Walker), P. octo (Dugdale), Ctenopseustis herana (Felder and Rogenhofer) and C . obliquana (Walker). Pooled genomic DNA from laboratory-reared specim ens of C. herana and C. obliquana could be distinguished with a single restriction enzyme (e.g. ClaI), while P. excessana and P. octo could be satisfactorily distinguished using double digestions with either Cl aI/PvuII or CIaI/BglII. It is concluded that these markers may be used to identify moths from wild populations.