Phylogenetics of Ancistrocerus parietum (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from the Southern Fergana Region, Uzbekistan
TL;DR
This study represents the first mtCOI-based molecular characterisation of a species belonging to the subfamily Eumeninae in Uzbekistan and demonstrated that all A. parietum specimens formed a strongly supported monophyletic clade with a bootstrap value of 100%.
Abstract
This study is on the molecular-genetic characteristics and phylogenetics of Ancistrocerus parietum (Linnaeus) from the Baghdad District, Buvayda District, Shokhimardon, and Yordon regions of Southern Fergana during 2023-2024, based on mitochondrial COI (mtCoI) gene sequences. A 656 bp fragment was amplified and analysed. The Baghdad population exhibited complete sequence identity with the corresponding GenBank record (MT862408), showing 0% genetic divergence. In contrast, the Shokhimardon population revealed two nucleotide substitutions at positions 133 and 327, corresponding to 0.30% genetic divergence, indicating intraspecific variation. The genetic divergence between A. parietum and A. scoticus was 3.65% (24 nucleotide differences), confirming their status as distinct species. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis (GTR+G+I model, bootstrap n = 1000) demonstrated that all A. parietum specimens formed a strongly supported monophyletic clade with a bootstrap value of 100%.This study represents the first mtCOI-based molecular characterisation of a species belonging to the subfamily Eumeninae in Uzbekistan.