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bioRxiv · 10.1101/799221

DNA Barcoding of fogged caterpillars in Peru: A novel approach for unveiling host-plant relationships of tropical moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera)

Hausmann, A.·Diller, J.·Moriniere, J.·Höcherl, A.·Floren, A.·Haszprunar, G.
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Abstract

A total of 130 lepidopteran larvae were selected from 37 fogging samples at the Panguana station, district Yuyapichis, province Puerto Inca, department Huanuco, Peru. Target trees were pre-identified and subsequently submitted to molecular confirmation of identity with three markers (rbcL, psbA and trnL-F). Identification of 119 lepidopteran larvae (92 species) was successful through DNA barcoding: Comparison of COI barcodes with the reference database of adult moths resulted in 65 (55%) matches at species level, 32 (27%) at genus level and 19 (16%) at subfamily or family level. Three larvae could not be assigned to a family. For these larvae the fogged target tree now suggests a potential host-plant relationship. Molecular gut content analysis, based on High-Throughput-Sequencing was successfully tested for ten larvae corroborating feeding on the target plant in some cases but elucidating several other cases of potential alternative feeding. We propose a larger-scale approach using this rapid and efficient method including molecular gut-content analyses for comprehensively testing the ratio of alternative feeders and pitfalls caused by collateral fogging of larvae from neighboring trees.

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Hausmann, A., Diller, J., Moriniere, J., Höcherl, A., Floren, A., Haszprunar, G.. 2019-10-09. DNA Barcoding of fogged caterpillars in Peru: A novel approach for unveiling host-plant relationships of tropical moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera). https://doi.org/10.1101/799221

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