Integrative Taxonomy of Wasps: Combining Morphological and Molecular Approaches of Indian wasps based on the COI gene sequencing (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

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.