Evaluating the morphological and molecular challenges in identifying the afrotropical Atylotus species (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Kirstin A Williams; Andeliza Smit; Luis Neves; Louwtjie P Snyman

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106262

Evaluating the morphological and molecular challenges in identifying the afrotropical Atylotus species (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Acta Trop. 2022 Feb:226:106262. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106262. Epub 2021 Dec 3.

Authors

Kirstin A Williams¹, Andeliza Smit², Luis Neves³, Louwtjie P Snyman⁴

Affiliations

¹ Natural Science Department, KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa. Electronic address: kwilliams@nmsa.org.za.
² Department of Veterinary and Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
³ Department of Veterinary and Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique.
⁴ Department of Veterinary and Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Entomology Department, Durban Natural Science Museum, Durban, South Africa.

PMID: 34871565
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106262

Abstract

The Afrotropical fly genus, Atylotus has previously shown little differentiation into species groups using the barcode gene COI. This study analysed all available Atylotus COI sequences from GenBank and BOLD to determine if COI is suitable for delimiting species of this genus. Morphological assessments of the different Afrotropical species were done to determine if these species have been accurately identified in recent publications. The results show that COI does not separate the species of this genus into species clades and these species are often misidentified in the literature. This is of concern as species of this genus are known vectors of pathogens and misidentifications have serious implications for management practices. Additional genes need to be used in future molecular studies to differentiate species.

Keywords: COI barcode; Disease vector; Horse fly; Species identification.

MeSH terms

Animals
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
Diptera* / genetics
Phylogeny