Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic origin of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in New Zealand

Variation in the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (Weidemann), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was assessed using restriction endonucleases. Ten individuals from 13 localities throughout New Zealand and Australia were examined using 18 restriction endonucleases. Only two localities exhibited polymorphism, suggesting historical events have contributed to this low level of mitochondrial variability in L. cuprina from these regions. A 472 base pair region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) was sequenced from six Australasian regions and samples from South Africa and Malaysia. Phylogenetic analyses using both parsimony and neighbor-joining methods indicates possible multiple introductions of L. cuprina in New Zealand.