Scriber, J. M., J. L. Bossart, and D. M. Snider. 1992. Diagnostic alleles from electrophoresis distinguish two noctuid pest species, Hydraecia immanis and H. micacea Lepidoptera: Noctuidae. Great Lakes Entomologist 25:91-98.

Native hop vine borer (Hydraecia immanis) and introduced potato stem borer (H. micacea) populations in Midwest corn have reached noticeable levels near the Great Lakes plant community ecotone between boreal forests and temperate deciduous forests. The hop vine borer is more specialized in its diet and occurs in corn generally south of the plant community ecotone, whereas the potato stem borer is polyphagous and occurs in corn mostly north of the Great Lakes plant transition zone. We analyzed the genetic composition of each species using cellulose acetate electrophoresis and resolved 19 loci of
which 6 exhibited fixed or nearly fixed allelic differences. We expect that this will be useful in determining the degree of hybridization where the two species become sympatric due to expected continued range expansions in Michigan,
Wisconsin, and New York State.

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