ABSTRACT
Trees of the genus Pistacia serve as obligate hosts for gall-forming aphids (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Fordini). Each aphid species induces a characteristic gall on a single Pistacia host species. The genus Geoica (Fordini) induce similar spherical closed galls on the lower side of the leaflet’s midvein, on different Pistacia species. Two species of Pistacia trees that harbor Geoica galls grow naturally in Israel: P. palaestina and P. atlantica. We analyzed the phylogeny and the genetic structure of the Geoica species complex in Israel, and assessed the genetic differentiation and the level of host plant specificity of the aphids between P. atlantica and P. palaestina. We found that the splitting of the genus between P. atlantica and P. palaestina is estimated to have occurred 24–25 Ma (the Oligocene/Miocene boundary). Five different haplotypes suggesting five different species have been further speciating among Geoica spp., galling on P. atlantica, and an additional three species, on P. palaestina.
Accession Numbers (COI sequences):
MW452548 - Pp-Q-7d-Gamla - Haplotype-VI
MW452549 - Pp-Q-10b-Gamla - Haplotype-VII
MW452550 - Pp-A-1a-Mezar - Haplotype-VII
MW452551 - Pp-S-6c-Sasa - Haplotype-VI
MW452552 - Pp-New Hermon-2-5 - Haplotype-VIII
MW452553 - Pa-Q-10a-II Gamla - Haplotype-IV
MW452554 - Pa-Q-5d Gamla - Haplotype-II
MW452555 - Pa-A-2f Mezar - Haplotype-IV
MW452556 - Pa-E-13 Anafa - Haplotype-III
MW452557 - Pa-K-10a Adolam - Haplotype-IV
MW452558 - Pa-K-3a Adolam - Haplotype-II
MW452559 - Pa-N-2a Nizana - Haplotype-I
MW452560 - Pa-Z-1-3 Hazeva - Haplotype-I
MW452561 - Pa-SL-3-3 Jordan-Sela - Haplotype-V
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.