Data from: A molecular diagnostic tool for the preliminary assessment of host-parasitoid associations in biological control programmes for a new invasive pest

Evaluation of host-parasitoid associations can be tenuous using conventional methods. Molecular techniques are well-placed to identify trophic links and resolve host-parasitoid associations. Establishment of the highly invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) outside Asia has prompted interest in the use of egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) as biological control agents. However, little is known regarding their host ranges. To address this, a DNA barcoding approach was taken wherein general PCR primers for Scelionidae and Pentatomidae were developed to amplify and sequence >500-bp products within the DNA barcoding region of the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene that would permit identification of key players in this association. Amplification of DNA from Pentatomidae and Scelionidae was consistent across a broad range of taxa within these families, and permitted detection of Scelionidae eggs within H. halys 1h following oviposition. In laboratory assays, amplification and sequencing of DNA from empty, parasitized eggs was successful for both host (100% success) and parasitoid (50% success). When applied to field-collected, empty egg masses the primers permitted host identification in 50 – 100% of the eggs analyzed, and yielded species-level identifications. Parasitoid identification success ranged from 33 – 67% among field-collected eggs, with genus-level identification for most specimens. The inability to obtain species-level identities for these individuals is due to the lack of coverage of this taxonomic group in public DNA sequence databases; this situation is likely to improve as more species are sequenced and recorded in these databases. These primers were able to detect and identify both pentatomid host and scelionid parasitoid in a hyperparasitized egg mass, thereby clarifying trophic links otherwise unresolved by conventional methodology.Alignment of public sequences for the COI gene for the PentatomidaeAlignment of public sequences available on the Barcode of Life Datasystems (BOLD) for the DNA barcoding region of the COI gene for the Pentatomidae. Alignment was performed in MegAlign (DNASTAR Lasergene) using ClustalW. BOLD Sequence ID number and Genus name provided for each specimen.01-Pentatomidae_BOLD_Public_Seq_Align.pdfAlignment of public sequences for the COI gene for the ScelionidaeAlignment of public sequences available on the Barcode of Life Datasystems (BOLD) for the DNA barcoding region of the COI gene for the Scelionidae. Alignment was performed in MegAlign (DNASTAR Lasergene) using ClustalW. BOLD Sequence ID number and Genus name provided for each specimen.02-Scelionidae_BOLD_Public_Seq_Align.pdfAlignment of COI barcode sequences for Telenomus spp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)Alignment of sequences for the DNA barcoding region of the COI gene for species of Telenomus collected in the field in Canada, Switzerland, and China. Alignment was performed in MegAlign (DNASTAR Lasergene) using ClustalW. BOLD Sequence ID number and Genus name provided for each specimen.03-Telenomus_my_BOLD_Seq_Align.pdfAlignment of COI barcode sequences for Trissolcus spp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)Alignment of sequences for the DNA barcoding region of the COI gene for species of Trissolcus collected in the field in Canada, Switzerland, and China. Alignment was performed in MegAlign (DNASTAR Lasergene) using ClustalW. BOLD Sequence ID number and Genus name provided for each specimen.04-Trissolcus_My_BOLD_SEQ_Align.pdfin silico testing of primers for Scelionidae and PentatomidaeOutput for in silico testing of Scel_F1, PENT_F2, HCO-2198 on Scelionidae, Telenomus, Trissolcus, and Pentatomidae consensus sequences. Results generated using FastPCR v6.4 (Kalendar et al. 2011; http://primerdigital.com/fastpcr.html) to screen target sequences to determine primer location, orientation, efficiency of binding, and complementarity.in_silico_primer_test_all.pdfPrimer Picking Results for PentatomidaeLocation, direction, suitability, and amplification parameters for primers designed to amplify Pentatomidae. Results generated using Primer3 v0.4.0 (Untergrasser et al. 2012; http://bioinfo.ut.ee/primer3-0.4.0/).PRIMER PICKING RESULTS FOR PENTATOMIDAE.pdfPrimer Picking Results for ScelionidaeLocation, direction, suitability, and amplification parameters for primers designed to amplify Scelionidae. Primer stats generated using Primer3 v0.4.0 (Untergrasser et al. 2012; http://bioinfo.ut.ee/primer3-0.4.0/).PRIMER PICKING RESULTS FOR SCELIONIDAE.pd