DNA barcoding identification of aphids in Inner Mongolia

Aphids are a major group of pest insects affecting economic crops in Inner Mongolia. However, due to the small size and the limited availability of reliable morphological diagnostic characteristics, traditional morphological identification methods are not only technically challenging but also time-consuming. To improve the accuracy and efficiency of aphid species identification, it is necessary to explore more efficient and robust identification techniques or methodological frameworks.

This study sequenced the mitochondrial COI genes of 175 aphid samples of 61 species from 40 genera that feed on 72 genera of plants in 29 families in Inner Mongolia. It then performed DNA barcoding identification using genetic distances, phylogeny construction, and multiple species delimitation methods.

Analysis results showed that each aphid species formed a distinct monophyletic clade in the NJ tree. The interspecific genetic distances were larger than the intraspecific genetic distances in groups other than Aphis, indicating the presence of a DNA barcoding gap. ABGD exhibited the highest identification accuracy while GMYC showed the lowest.

This study demonstrates that DNA barcoding can effectively distinguish aphid species in Inner Mongolia and is a reliable tool for rapid species identification, facilitating the timely assessment of pest species and thereby enabling more effective pest management.