Population genetics of redlegged earth mites Halotydeus destructor and H. anthropus (Acarina: Penthaleidae) from Australia and or South Africa

A population genetic study of Halotydeus destructor (Tucker) and H. anthropus Qin & Halliday was undertaken using allozyme electrophoresis. Allele frequency data were collected from five polymorphic loci (Gpi—glucose phosphate isomerase, G6pd—glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, Idh — isocitrate dehydrogenase, Mdh — malate dehydrogenase, and Pgm–phosphoglucomutase) to determine genetic variability and levels of gene flow among Australian and South African populations. The two species could be distinguished by the most common allele at Gpi and usually Pgm. There was no evidence for subdivision among the Australian populations of H. destructor, but the levels of substructuring among the South African populations of H. destructor and those of H. anthropus were high. The geographic origin of H. destructor is discussed; the evidence suggests that the original source of the Australian populations of H. destructor was from Cape Town, South Africa.