GENETIC-VARIABILITY OF SOME BIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS IN LIXOPHAGA-DIATRAEAE (DIPTERA, TACHINIDAE)

Genetic variability was compared in a laboratory strain of Lixophaga d iatraeae and a newly collected strain from Cuba. Five characteristics were analyzed: larval and pupal developmental durations and pupal leng th, diameter, and weight. The comparison of the within- and between-fa mily variances by variance analyses showed that the Cuban strain was g enerally more variable than the laboratory strain. Thus, the latter st rain shows a lower genetic variability probably proceeding from a gene tic drift or bottlenecks. Heritability computations by the parent-chil d regression method also revealed some differences in the genetic vari ability of the two strains. Pupal length was selected in a Cuban strai n for eight generations. An obvious differentiation was obtained betwe en the low and the high selected lines. Such a selection could be used to improve biological control results. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.