Molecular Decision Scheme
The regulated species listed below have been identified using the mentioned protocols. It is very likely that other arthropod species can successfully be identified using these protocols, but validation data has not been generated to support this. Protocols in blue are published in PM7/129.
Warning regarding the identification of quarantine Arthropods using barcoding
This molecular database supports reliable identification of most quarantine species of Arthropods included, mostly using a 658-base pair fragment in the gene encoding the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI), corresponding the standard barcode as defined by Hebert et al. (2003)*.
However, several genera and complex species cannot be reliably identified using this gene. It is essential before providing a BLAST result, to carefully verify that the taxon does not belong to a listed taxonomic group for which the barcode is not working. The database also contains a few sequences of ITS2 gene, their use in practice is limited however as very few ITS2 sequences are available in international databases.
A list of taxa included in the database and a list of taxa for which the greatest concern is required are provided below.
List of taxa included in the molecular database whose identification is uncertain with the standard COI barcode.
Order | Family | Interspecific discrimination between closely related species inconclusive | Intraspecific discrimination between subspecies or biotypes inconclusive |
Coleoptera | Chrysomelidae | Diabrotica sub spp. | |
Coleoptera | Cerambycidae | Monochamus spp. | |
Coleoptera | Cerambycidae | Trichoferus spp. | |
Lepidoptera | Tortricidae | Tortricidae: several species are very close together | Torticidae: not enough specimens in database to reflect intraspecific diversity |
Lepidoptera | Tortricidae | Choristoneura fumiferana / pinus | |
Lepidoptera | Lasiocampidae | Dendrolimus spp. | |
Hymenoptera | Pamphiliidae | Cephalcia spp. | |
Hymenoptera | Tenthredinidae | Pristiphora spp. | |
Diptera | Tephritidae | Rhagoletis completa / zoqui / ramosae | |
Tephritidae | Rhagoletis pomonella / mendax | ||
Tephritidae | Anastrepha fraterculus / obliqua / suspensa | ||
Tephritidae | Ceratitis fasciventris / anonae / rosa / quilicii | ||
Tephritidae | Bactrocera dorsalis / carambolae | ||
Hemiptera | Aleyrodidae | Aleurocanthus spp. | Bemisia tabaci biotypes |
Hemiptera | Miridae | Lygus spp. |
* HEBERT P. D. N., CYWINSKA A., BALL S. L. & DEWAARD J. R., 2003. – Biological identifications through DNA barcodes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 270: 313-321.