Molecular Identification of Phytophagous Scarabaeid from different regions of India

Identification of scarabaeid beetles is a challenging task due to variable morphological differences among species and delineation among the immature forms, the grubs and adults. A method for easy and accurate species-level identification at any life stage is required. In this study, a 658-base pair region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was used to explore its utility in the identification of important beetles. Twenty seven specimens were collected from 25 locations in different states, were characterized using specific primers for their identification. Sequence analysis and divergence among the species was assessed. The composition of the mitochondrial sequence of the COI gene in the present study was expectedly AT biased. Genbank accession numbers were obtained for the species. Molecular sequence information from NCBI revealed relatedness in all the collected scarabaeids, accurately as revealed by their morphological characters. The studies indicate the relevance of DNA sequencing to match different forms of beetles and address ambiguities in morphological identification and information on species diversity would help plan strategies for pest management.