New faunistic data on Diptera (Hexapoda, Insecta) from the Ziarat Juniperus forest ecosystem (Pakistan)

Abstract

This study presents the first faunistic record and DNA barcoding for some Diptera species recorded from the Juniperus forest ecosystem of Balochistan, Pakistan. DNA barcoding was used to explore species diversity of Dipterans and collections carried out using a Malaise trap between December 2018 to December 2019. This process involved sequencing the 658 bp Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene. Amongst the collected Diptera specimens, nine families were identified, representing 13 genera. These species include Atherigona soccata (Rondani, 1871), Atherigona varia (Schiner, 1868), Chironomus dorsalis (Meigen, 1818), Eupeodes corollae (Linnaeus, 1758), Eristalis tenax (Linnaeus,1758), Gonia ornata (Meigen, 1826), Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826), Paragus quadrifasciatus (Linnaeus, 1758), Pollenia rudis (Fabricius, 1794), Ravinia pernix (Thompson, 1869), Sarcophaga dux (Thompson, 1869), Trupanea amoena (Schiner, 1868) and Wohlfahrtia bella (Linnaeus, 1758). The families Syrphidae and Sarcophagidae exhibited the highest representation, each comprising three genera and three species. They were followed by the family Muscidae, which had a single genus and two species. Anthomyiidae, Chironomidae, Calliphoridae, Polleniidae, Tachinidae and Tephritidae were represented by only one genus and one species. A nique Barcode Index Number (BIN) was allotted to Tachinidae (specie i.e Gonia ornata). The results indicated that barcoding through cytochrome oxidase I is an effective approach for the accurate identification and genetic studies of Diptera species. This discovery highlights the significant diversity of this insect order in study region. Furthermore, a comprehensive list of other Diptera species remains elusive because of difficulties in distinguishing them, based on morphology and a lack of professional entomological knowledge.