Inferring larval taxonomy and morphology in Maladera species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini) using DNA taxonomy tools
Abstract
Based on a comparative molecular study of scarab chafers we matched adult and larval instars. Here, we use for the first time a two-fold DNA taxonomy approach based on: (i) mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers of a local sample (from Nepal) of adults and larvae, in combination with character and tree-based species delimitation methods; and (ii) a global search of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) sequences with GenBank data.
Both approaches unambiguously identified the unknown larvae as belonging to M. affinis and Maladera cardoni (Brenske). Based on this robust framework of taxonomic identification we could associate names to the larval morphology of the third larval instar of these two Nepalese Maladera species, which are both known for their economical importance in agriculture.
They are described here in detail and are compared with known related taxa, especially with Maladera castanea (Arrow).