DNA barcoding of limacodidae (Lepidoptera) insects

With advances in molecular techniques, in addition to species identification methods such as BPSI, FuzzyID2, Niche barcoding, and MMNet, DNA barcoding has become a pivotal tool for species delimitation.

This study systematically evaluated species delineation approaches within Lepidoptera, with particular emphasis on Limacodidae moths.

By integrating 4563 COI sequences from NCBI, BOLD, and original field collections (representing 176 morphospecies), we employed multiple analytical frameworks—jMOTU, ABGD, and the bPTP model—to assess genetic characteristics and taxonomic resolution.

Our findings demonstrate that COI markers effectively resolved species-level delimitation, with 64% of morphospecies forming strongly supported monophyletic clades. However, we observed phylogenetic ambiguities among congeneric lineages. Methodological comparisons revealed that the ABGD approach achieved superior accuracy (84.49% ± 1.8%), contrasting with the limited performance of the bPTP model (60.01% accuracy). Notable overlap between interspecific and intraspecific genetic distances suggests cryptic speciation or other driving forces.

While confirming the operational utility of DNA barcoding for Limacodidae systematics, this comparative study further substantiates the applicability of the DNA barcoding in species delimitation for this group. Our findings provide valuable reference for the broader application of DNA barcoding technology in taxonomic research.