Isozyme patterns and their inheritance in the tachinid Compsilura concinnata

An isozyme survey and mating study was used to investigate the genetic basi s of variation in polymorphic enzymes of the parasitic fly Compsilura conci nnata (Meigen), an exotic biological control of lepidopteran pests. We inve stigated the isozyme variation for 34 enzyme systems in three colonies of C . concinnata, and in offspring from matings of two colonies, all reared on larvae of Lymantria dispar L. We found 37 loci, 14% of which were polymorph ic. To determine the enzymes' inheritance we followed the patterns of trans mission from parents to offspring for 35 isozymes. We found monomorphic ban ding patterns in 30 enzyme systems, the majority being single bands that mi grated similarly in the gels. Five isozymes (-Est, Fum, Ha, Mpi, Tpi) were polymorphic and their inheritance followed the expectations for simple Mend elian inheritance, confirming them as candidate allozymes of C. concinnata. Estimates or average heterozygosity for laboratory populations of this par asitoid were hall those of other Diptera, but the estimates were higher tha n those of a primary host, L. dispar, and of some parasitic Hymenoptera.