Integrating Molecular Approaches in Taxonomic Study of Family Rhyparochromid (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): A Review
Kritika Sharma *
Department of biosciences, Chandigarh University, India.
Rashmi Gupta
Department of biosciences, Chandigarh University, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The family Rhyparochromidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) commonly known as Dirt-colored seed bugs, holds over 2000 species globally and is one of the largest families in seed bugs. For a long time, traditional taxonomy has been based on physical traits like body size, wing shape and structure of external genitals or their color patterns. However, depending solely on these morphological features makes it challenging to identify and classify the species. Due to which cryptic species, convergence, and intraspecies variation, diversity and phylogenetic resolution were frequently inaccurate. For instance, the incorporation of molecular tools like DNA barcoding, phylogenetics analysis and CO1 gene as a mitochondrial gene, and ribosomal RNA genes like 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA genes has revolutionized taxonomy and provide insights in species identification and classification. This article summarizes the recent studies on molecular strategies for the taxonomy of Rhyparochromidae, which includes the applications of mitochondrial molecular markers for phylogenetic studies. It presents a more integrative view for analysis by molecular tools to facilitate species delimitation, clarify phylogenetic obscurities and provide information on the previously unnoticed biodiversity. Furthermore, the study highlights the advantages, challenges and future prospective for taxonomy by the incorporation of molecular techniques which aids in classification and identification of species of family Rhyparochromidae.
Keywords: Rhyparochromidae, molecular, markers, Taxonomy, Species, identification, cryptic, speciation, mitochondrial, DNA, barcoding