Temporal Dynamics and DNA Barcoding of Hymenoptera from Juniper Forest Ecosystem

Abstract

The study of Hymenoptera diversity and phenology holds significant importance for basic and applied scientific objectives. The present knowledge on the worldwide fauna diversity of Hymenoptera is good but exact data for Pakistan especially for the Hymenopterous fauna of Balochistan has not yet been updated. This geographical area presents an opportunity for the discovery of previously undocumented insect species. This study represents the first DNA barcode analysis in this research area, for a detailed picture of Hymenoptera. Out of the 8430 collected specimens, 810 insect specimens were morphologically identified as Hymenoptera, representing 50 species belonging to 11 families and 40 genera. These specimens were collected using a Malaise trap for 52 weeks, from 11 th December 2018 to 10 th December 2019. For further confirmation, the collected insect specimens were analyzed by sequencing cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (DNA barcode) and BINs were assigned to the Barcode of Life Data Systems. Based on molecular analysis, eight species representing three families and four genera were identified, and respective barcode index numbers (BINs) were assigned to them. Among them, four new species were recorded and two unique BINS (BOLD:AET0858 and BOLD:AET2316) were assigned to Chrysis castillana and Anthophora quadrimaculata, which had not previously been documented in the DNA barcode database. The most dominant species was Camponotus compressus (Fabricius, 1787), which was found throughout the year and had the highest mean population density. We explored the importance of employing harmonizing approaches including adult morphological characteristics and the DNA barcode method to accurately identify wild entomofauna for cryptic