ISSN 2348-313X (Print) International Journal of Life Sciences Research ISSN 2348-3148 (online) Vol. 10, Issue 4, pp: (41-46), Month: October - December 2022, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
DNA Barcoding of Scoliid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) From Selected Sites in Luzon Island, Philippines Del Rosario, Allan B.1 1
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Camarines Sur, Bicol, Philippines DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7315369
Published Date: 12-November-2022
Abstract: Despite the importance of Scoliidae (Hymenoptera) in pest biological control and plant pollination, their taxonomy and systematics are far from clear. Some species are difficult to differentiate because of extreme morphological characteristics similarity. DNA barcoding is a useful tool to delineate species that are difficult to identify using morphological structures. In this study, the six and three samples of Scoliid wasps were collected in Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), Camarines Sur, Bicol, and Nueva Ecija, respectively, were discerned using DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial COI gene. Collected scoliid wasps from two sites have bodies that were fairly large and shouted; length ranged from 16.5 – 19.73mm. Antennae were light red; wings black with purplish reflections; and abdomen with faint blue reflections. Results showed that the three samples (1CBSUA, 2CBSUA, and 4CBSUA) from CBSUA and one sample (2NE) from Nueva Ecija were similar to Scolia kuroiwae. However, only two (1CBSUA, 97.2%; 2NE, 97.8%) from these samples passed the 97.0% cutoff of similarity. On the other hand, the remaining samples (3CBSUA, 5CBSUA, and 6CBSUA; 1NE and 3NE) were similar to Scolia verticalis but failed to hit the 97.0% cutoff of similarity. Samples with hits lower than the 97.0% similarity threshold suggest the possibility of species diversity among the collected Scoliid wasps in the two sites. Keywords: DNA barcoding, scarab beetle, Scolia species, Scoliidae.
I. INTRODUCTION White grubs, the root-feeding larvae of various native and introduced scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are one the most destructive and widespread insect pests of crops in the Philippines. Collectively they account for hundreds of millions of pesos in damage and control costs every year. White grubs traditionally have been controlled with soil insecticides. However, pesticide usage in crop areas is increasingly restricted due to perceived hazards and environmental concerns such as groundwater contamination. Scoliid wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) are pollinators of various plants and larval solitary ectoparasitoids of scarabaeoid beetles (Liu et al., 2021) that include Anomala sp. and Phyllophaga sp. (Kim, 2009), Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle) (Grisell, 2007), and Oryctes rhinoceros (coconut rhinoceros beetle) (Paudel et al., 2021). A study by Jepson (1956) in Tanzania reported that large Scoliid wasps, Campsomeris mansueta, parasitized the third instar larva of Cochliois melolonthoides (sugarcane white grub), and may have caused the 20 – 50% mortality of that stage. Smaller species of Campsomeris sp., C. felina, C. lachesis, and C. caelebs parasitized second instar larva and may have accounted for the 10 – 25% mortality of this stage. Meanwhile, another study also showed that Scoliid wasps and Voria sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) parasitoids were able to control the larval population of the taro scarab beetle (Papuana uninodis) using a continuous-time simulation model (Faithpraise et al., 2014). Females search for the location of the scarabaeoid larva by vibratory signals (i.e., antennal tapping), then they sting, paralyze and oviposit a single egg on the surface of the host (Liu et al., 2021). The hatched larva
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