PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Christy Grenier
AU  - Bryce Summerhays
AU  - Ryan Cartmill
AU  - Tanairi Martinez
AU  - Roxane Saisho
AU  - Alexander Rothenberg
AU  - Alicia Tovar
AU  - Andrew Rynerson
AU  - Jerrika Scott
AU  - John J Obrycki
AU  - Arun Sethuraman
TI  - Lack of phenotypic variation despite population structure in larval utilization of pea aphids by populations of the lady beetle <em>Hippodamia convergens</em>
AID  - 10.1101/740506
DP  - 2020 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 740506
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/07/13/740506.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/07/13/740506.full
AB  - The convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens) is a generalist natural enemy that is utilized extensively in augmentative biological control across the United States. Recent studies have pointed to both genetic and phenotypic differences in Western (California) versus Eastern (Kansas) populations of the species. Here we investigate (1) genetic population structure, and (2) phenotypic differences in the utilization of pea aphids at temperatures that resemble the Western United States in (a) Eastern versus Western populations, (b) F1 Eastern X Western hybrids versus their progenitor populations, and investigate the effects of interaction between (c) Eastern and Western populations. We found no differences in final pupal weight, or the net weight gain ratio through larval development from the third instar to pupal stage, despite genetic population structure. Our study points towards plastic response and effectiveness in feeding phenotypes of Eastern and Western populations of H. convergens, and the absence of hybrid vigor and heterozygote advantages in hybrids.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.