DNA-based identification of South Korean Megaloptera larvae with taxonomic notes

Abstract

AbstractMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences, which serve as DNA barcodes, have been used to associate immature and adult stages of insects and to delineate species. The partial mitochondrial cytochromecoxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences for South Korean Megaloptera (all known in the adult stage) were tested to identify undetermined larvae as a rapid and effective method from 31 specimens (16 adults and 15 larvae). The COI gene sequences distinguished all six known Megaloptera species, with a low genetic distance between larvae and adults (0.50±0.21%). Based on the COI gene sequences, we associated five types of larvae with known adults including the following four species of newly described larval stages:Sialis annaeVshivkova, 1979 (Megaloptera: Sialidae);Neochauliodes formosanus(Okamoto, 1910) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae);Parachauliodes asahinaiLiuet al., 2008 (Megaloptera: Corydalidae); andProtohermes xanthodesNavás, 1913 (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). The known larval stage ofSialis koreanaJung and Bae, 2012 (Megaloptera: Sialidae) was confirmed, and the morphological variation in the male genitalia ofSialis longidensKlingstedt, 1932 (Megaloptera: Sialidae) is discussed. A larval key to the six South Korean species of Megaloptera is provided.