DNA barcoding of Pentatomomorpha bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Western Ghats of India

Abstract

Recent studies from East Asia and Canadian National Collection of Insects have established the utility of DNA barcoding technique in identification of true bugs. The present study is an expansion of the database by adding mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (mtCOI) sequences from forty three species of indigenous true bugs of India. mtCOI gene analysis of infraorder Pentatomomorpha covering a total of seventy three species that belong to five superfamilies; Pentatomoidea, Coreoidea, Pyrrhocoroidea, Lygaeoidea and Aradoidea revealed more than 3% interspecific distances in all the taxa studied except for two cases which showed barcode sharing. Less than 2% intra-specific divergence was observed in 97% of the taxa analysed and the average interspecies genetic distance was about 29 times higher than the average intraspecies genetic divergence. Distinct sequence divergence pattern at generic level and NJ clustering analysis suggests that COI barcode is an excellent molecular marker for species level identification of unknown taxa; however it may not be useful for resolving deep levels of divergence. Species identification even at nymphal stage could be achieved confirming the efficacy of this technique.

Taxonomic review and distribution of giant water bugs (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae: Lethocerinae) in the Palearctic, Oriental, and Australian regions

“…However, during the revision of the Lethocerinae, Perez Goodwyn (2006) revalidated the genus Kirkaldyia, based on the type species K. deyrolli (Vuillefroy), 1864. Indeed, the results of the present study confirm that the genetic distances between K. deyrolli and Lethocerus species (i.e., 16.8% with L. indicus, 16.5% with L. insulanus, and 16.4% with L. patruelis; average = 16.5%) lay within the range of intergeneric distances reported between the genera of other hemipteran groups (i.e., 14.9-19.9%: Park et al 2011;Jung et al 2011a;Tembe et al 2014;Kaur & Sharma 2017). Therefore, the various synonyms of K. deyrolli (e.g., L. deyrolli, L. deyrollei, and K. deyrolli: Ichikawa 1995;Polhemus 1995;Ohba 2007;Ho et al 2009;Yoon et al 2010) should no longer be used, and K. deyrolli should be accepted as the valid name for the species.…”

“…The present study provides the first genetic analysis of the Lethocerinae species distributed in the Palearctic, Oriental and Australian regions. The intra-and interspecific genetic distances of the three included Lethocerus species fell within the ranges of genetic distances that have been reported for hemipteran taxa (i.e., <3% and 10.7-12.6%, respectively, Park et al 2011;Jung et al 2011a;Tembe et al 2014;Kaur & Sharma 2017). Lethocerus patruelis yielded the lowest intraspecific genetic distance (0.3%), even though the specimens were from distant geographic localities, ranging from Europe (Bulgaria) to Southeast Asia (Myanmar and Thailand).…”

“…; Tembe et al . ; Kaur & Sharma ). Lethocerus patruelis yielded the lowest intraspecific genetic distance (0.3%), even though the specimens were from distant geographic localities, ranging from Europe (Bulgaria) to Southeast Asia (Myanmar and Thailand).…”

“…; Tembe et al . ; Kaur & Sharma ). Therefore, the various synonyms of K. deyrolli (e.g., L. deyrolli , L. deyrollei , and K. deyrolli : Ichikawa ; Polhemus ; Ohba ; Ho et al .…”

The Hemiptera (Insecta) of Canada: Constructing a Reference Library of DNA Barcodes

“…The past several years have seen a rise in Hemiptera DNA barcode publications that span intra-specific [ 36 , 37 ] and inter-specific [ 38 ] population studies, regional libraries from Europe [ 39 ], India [ 40 ], Korea and the far east [ 41 ], and the start of a global focus at the family (Aradidae) [ 42 ], and suborder (heteroptera)[ 43 ] levels. Thus far all Hemiptera libraries, including this study, predictably find patterns of taxonomic agreement, cryptic diversity or barcode sharing based on their specimens examined.…”