Molecular identification of Diadegma species (Ichneumonidae) parasitising diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Plutellidae) in Eastern and Southern Africa

Sequencing of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the ribosomal DNA followed by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis were used to differentiate Diadegma species (Ichneumonidae) parasitising Diamond back moth DBM in eastern and southern Africa. The maximum nucleotide divergence between D. mollipla and D. semiclausum was 6.8%, whereas D. sp. from Ethiopia differs in - 35%, The intraspecific divergence was 0.3% in Diadegma mollipla, and 0.7% in Diadegma semiclausum.