Integrative Taxonomy
of Wasps: Combining Morphological and Molecular Approaches of Indian wasps based
on the COI gene sequencing (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Mohankumar K., Suja M., M. Komala, Kumar Krishnan and Balu Prakash
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(10); 91-97;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2010rjbt091097; (2025)
Abstract
This study aimed to accurately identify five wasp species: Delta conoideum, Delta
esuriens, Ropalidia marginata, Sceliphron distillatorium and Polybia paulista, collected
from agricultural ecosystems, using both morphological characteristics and mitochondrial
cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequencing. Detailed taxonomic descriptions
based on body size, coloration and structural features were initially used for identification.
Molecular analysis of the COI gene yielded sequences ranging from 626 to 1031 base
pairs, exhibiting high AT content typical of insect mitochondrial genomes.
Phylogenetic trees constructed from the COI data confirmed species identities with
strong bootstrap support and revealed close relationships with existing NCBI reference
sequences. The combination of morphological and molecular methods proved effective
in distinguishing closely related species and understanding their evolutionary relationships.
This integrative approach enhances the accuracy of wasp identification, contributing
valuable data for biodiversity assessment and ecological monitoring in agroecosystems.
