Résumé
B emisia tabaci is a complex of putative species that exhibit a strong geographical pattern. Crossing experiments have revealed various degrees of reproductive isolation between these nascent species, ranging between fertile first‐generation hybrids ( F 1) and no F 1 at all. However, the relevance of these results under natural conditions is generally not known. The worldwide invasion of the putative species M iddle E ast‐ A sia M inor 1 ( MEAM 1) has caused secondary contacts between allopatric species, which in turn provide an opportunity to detect potential hybrids in nature. A total of 346 female B . tabaci were collected in 2003 and 2005 in the N orth E ast of M orocco and assigned to MEAM 1 (119), Mediterranean (Med) (225) and a new putative species (2) using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (mt COI ) gene sequences. MEAM 1 and M ed individuals were characterized at seven microsatellite loci. MEAM 1 and M ed were found to be sympatric in 11 of 12 samples (6 fields/year). As previously reported from S pain, MEAM 1 frequency decreased over time. The genetic data are consistent with a recent introduction of MEAM 1. A B ayesian clustering analysis ( Structure ) distinguished two groups, which were 100% consistent with the mt COI groups. From several lines of evidence, two individuals were identified as hybrids. Assignment profiles using NewHybrids and allele composition indicated that they were not F 1 hybrids. The results are discussed in relation to the secondary endosymbiont infection status determined on a sample of individuals, and the contrasting outcomes of the reported crossing experiments between MEAM 1 and M ed.