Molecular characterization and phylogenetic assessment of agricultural-related noctuids (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of South America

BLAS, GERMAN SAN; BAUDINO, ESTELA MARIS; DIAS, FERNANDO MAIA SILVA; DOLIBAINA, DIEGO RODRIGO; SPECHT, ALEXANDRE; CASAGRANDE, MIRNA MARTINS; CORNEJO, PAULA; GIRAUDO, WALTER GUILLOT; MIELKE, OLAF HERMANN HENDRIK

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia

Sociedad Brasilera de Entomología

Año: 2021 vol. 65

Accurate identification of species is fundamental to every biological research. While morphological identification isa time-consuming and skilled technique, straightforward molecular techniques require the availability of a databaseof previously sequenced and identified specimens. For most countries of South America, species of noctuids withavailable sequences are scarce, mostly restricted to species of economic importance, making molecular identificationuntenable. Here we sequenced the mitochondrial DNA ?barcode? region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit Igene of 34 specimens pertaining to 26 species of South American noctuids, 20 of these for the first time. For allspecies, genetic distances were higher for interspecific than for intraspecific relations, supporting the utility ofDNA ?barcodes? to identify species. Larger intraspecific divergences occurred in species of Agrotis and Anicla, andinterspecific divergences lower than 2% occurred in about one fifth of the species, all in species of Agrotis, Feltia,and Anicla. These results will allow identifying these species using DNA ?barcodes?, either for pest managementor general biological studies. Furthermore, we carried out phylogenetic analyses with those sequences and 158other sequences of 85 species of noctuids mined from GenBank. These analyses, in every case, grouped speciesof the same genus suggesting that the DNA ?barcodes? region alone can be useful for lower level phylogeny inthis group, recovering as monophyletic groups such as Copitarsia, Agrotis and Austrandesiita. Conversely, groupssuch as Mythimna (Mythimna) and the subgenera of Feltia were not recovered as monophyletic, suggesting theneed for further taxonomic studies in these groups.