DNA barcoding of Geometridae moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera): a preliminary effort from Namdapha National Park, Eastern Himalaya

Abstract

The order Lepidoptera is a highly diverse and well-established indicator taxon that helps to monitor anthropogenic threats in the environment and climate change. In India, the taxonomic studies on Lepidoptera have been started long ago, but the molecular studies have been performed rarely, especially in the Himalayan region. The present study generated DNA barcode sequence of 44 Geometridae moths from Namdapha National Park in Eastern Himalaya and identified them through wing pattern and genitalia structure. Among them, the DNA barcode data of 13 Geometridae species are the novel contribution in the global database. All the studied species were revealed sufficient Kimura 2 Parameter (K2P) genetic divergence and distinguished by Bayesian (BA) tree. The genus Problepsis (subfamily Sterrhinae), Pelagodes and Lophophelma (subfamily Geometrinae) showed distinct clades with their respective species in the BA tree. The BA cladogram successfully separated the studied specimens under three different tribes; Macariini, Eutoeini, and Boarmiini (subfamily Ennominae). The study further revealed the new records of two Geometridae moths, Pelagodes bellula and Hypomecis costaria from India. Nevertheless, more than one clade of Cleora, Hypomecis, and Chiasmia in BA tree; further impelled more rigorous sampling of the studied taxon from different geographical regions for better systematic interpretation.

Keywords:

• Indo-Burma
• Lepidoptera
• cryptic species
• mtCOI
• species diversity

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata for accommodating the research programme and providing the necessary facilities. The study is funded by the Core funding of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), New Delhi and National Mission on Himalayan Studies (Grant No. NMHS/2015-16/HF03/03). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis or preparation of the manuscript.

Author contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: VK, SK, KT, KC; Performed the experiments: RC, OS, RR, AP; Morphological examination: AS, AR; Analysed the data: SK, VK, KT, AP; Contributed chemicals and analysis tools: VK, KC; Wrote the paper: SK, VK, AS, KC; All authors reviewed the manuscript.