Landscape genetics of Tetraopes texanus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The insect community of Mississippi and Alabama’s Black Belt prairies is unique yet understudied.  Prairie remnants harbor endemic species as well as species that display disjunct distributions.  Insight into historic and modern biogeography of the unique insects of this ecoregion and how they respond to modern land-use and fragmentation will foster a deeper understanding of prairie ecology and thus enhance conservation efforts; insects are highly influential in prairies thus it is crucial their ecological contributions be included in conservation planning.  The Texas Longhorn Milkweed Beetle, Tetraopes texanus (Coleoptera:  Cerambycidae), is a Black Belt prairie insect that displays a disjunction.  T. texanus is primarily distributed in the Western United States, but populations are also found in Black Belt prairies.  The aim of this research is to define the landscape genetics of T. texanus.  We will collect beetles from populations across T. texanus’ range.  We will sequence specimens using restriction associated DNA sequencing (RADseq).  We will calculate measures of heterozygosity and gene flow.  These measures will be used in conjunction with land-cover and climate data to determine how modern land-use, fragmentation, and climate is impacting the population structure of this beetle in both the Black Belt and across its range.  Further, this work will provide insight into the origin of the modern distribution of this beetle.