Research article

MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF RED PUMPKIN BEETLE, AULACOPHORA FOVIECOLLIS (LUCAS, 1849) (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) FROM KURDISTAN REGION -IRAQ

Hozan Q. Hammamurad1, Nabeel A. Mawlood1 and Zewar Z. Omar2

Online First: February 22, 2023


The present work consists of a molecular identification and a detailed description of the red. pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Erbil. city, Kurdistan Region /Iraq. The samples were collect directly by hand through different plants of Cucurbitaceae (cucumbers, cucurbit, pumpkin, snake cucumber and melon) during, April 2021 tile August 2022. The molecular identification determined that the bands of (550 bp) of mt COI gene was amplified with PCR from the A. foveicollis for distinguishing and constructing phylogenetic tree. The part of the COI gene of the insect specimens were alimented inside of NCBI GenBank by BLAST program, and used to contrast the nucleotide sequenced with other species Aulacophora of insect sequences. The results exhibited that the sequences obtained was A. foveicollis identified species based on the mitochondrial COI gene. The COI sequence of A. foveicollis was submitted to GenBank with accession OP303358 Kafroshi1.The morphological study indicated that the apical part of the mandibles with four denticles, inner denticle shorter than the outer. Fourth segment of the maxillary palps is oval and as long as the second once. Antennae filiform type includes of 11 segments, 11th segment elongated oval, 1.4.times as long as 10th.segment. Tegmen Y-shaped. Aedeagus tubular shaped, apical part rounded, basal hood nearly rectangular shaped. Some important parts were photographed. Hosts plants, localities and date of collection have been mentioned.

Keywords

Molecular identification, morphological study, Aulacophora foviecollis, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Kurdistan. Region -Iraq.