An orange-eye mutant of the potato tuberworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Normal (or wild-type) strains of the potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), have deep neutral grey eyes and light pink larvae. A strain homozygous for a new mutation, orange eye color, was established. The mutant phenotype is controlled by a single autosomal recessive allele, which also produces a light apple-green larval color. The gene symbol assigned to this new mutant is o. There is a slight reduction (but not a significant difference) in the reproductive ability of orange-eye mutant females, as measured by numbers of progeny in backcross populations. This mutant strain will be of use as a genetic marker in studying reproductive behavior and population dynamics of this important pest species.