Integrative insect taxonomy based on morphology, mitochondrial DNA, and hyperspectral reflectance profiling

Abstract

Integrative taxonomy is considered a reliable taxonomic approach of closely related and cryptic species by integrating different sources of taxonomic data (genetic, ecological, and morphological characters). In order to infer the boundaries of seven species of the evacanthine leafhopper genus Bundera Distant, 1908 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), an integrated analysis based on morphology, mitochondrial DNA, and hyperspectral reflectance profiling (37 spectral bands from 411-870 nm) was conducted. Despite their morphological similarities, the genetic distances of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene among the tested species are relatively large (5.8-17.3%). The speciesspecific divergence of five morphologically similar species (Bundera pellucida and Bundera spp. 1-4) was revealed in mitochondrial DNA data and reflectance profiling. A key to identifying males is provided, and their morphological characters are described. Average reflectance profiles from the dorsal side of specimens were classified based on linear discriminant analysis. Cross-validation of reflectance-based classification revealed that the seven species could be distinguished with 91.3% classification accuracy. This study verified the feasibility of using hyperspectral imaging data in insect classification, and our work provides a good example of using integrative taxonomy in studies of closely related and cryptic species.

Phylogeny and historical biogeography of leafhopper subfamily Evacanthinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) based on morphological and molecular data

“…Primers used for amplification can be found as Supplementary Table S2. COI PCR products were amplified by primers LCO1490 and HCO2198 with the following thermal cycling protocol: 2 minutes at 95 °C; five cycles of 40 seconds at 94 °C, 40 seconds at 45 °C, and 1 minute at 72 °C; 35 cycles of 40 seconds at 94 °C, 40 seconds at 51 °C, and 1 minute at 72 °C; 10 minutes at 72 °C; and finally held at 10 °C49. When these primers were not successful, the primer cocktail C-tRWF_t1 enabled the amplification of the standard 658 bp barcode region, together with a short upstream sequence, in an additional 15% of the specimens44.…”

An integrative approach in the assessment of species delimitation and structure of the Merodon nanus species group (Diptera: Syrphidae)

“…After 10 years of practice of integrative taxonomy (Goulding and Dayrat 2016), some newly published studies still highlighted the significance of using the holistic approach, e.g., benchmarking results of molecular species delimitation against morphologically well-defined taxa in highly diverse subfamily Drusinae (Insecta, Trichoptera) (Vitecek et al 2017). A good example of applying integrative taxonomy in studies of closely related and cryptic insect species was provided by Wang et al (2016). Based on morphology, mitochondrial DNA, and hyperspectral reflectance profiling, they inferred the boundaries of morphologically similar species of genus Bundera (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).…”

Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for taxonomic entomology: A brief review

“…(2011), that NIRS may provide the true "barcode of life." 6 | HEMIP TER A 6.1 | Cicadellidae Wang, Nansen, and Zhang (2016) included some very NIR wavelengths (411-870 nm). Specimens could be identified through their hyperspectral image alone with 91.3% accuracy.…”