Molecular identification of forensically important flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) using COI Gene

Abstract

The traditional identification and taxonomy among the flesh flies of the Sarcophagidae family can be done based on the morphology of the male genitalia. Nonetheless, Morphological identification of male genitalia sometimes not up to the standard which means that sometimes misidentifications can occur. Barcoding of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit I gene (COI) for identification of three species of Sarcophagidae which are forensically important was done. Sarcophaga ruficornis, Sarcophaga dux and Sarcophaga peregrina were collected from Maharashtra State, India and used for mtDNA identification. The mean of nucleotide composition frequently distribution within Sarcophaga were A= 29.99%, T=37.84%, C= 16.31% and G= 15.85%. S. ruficornis and S. dux are common ancestor species they are shearing most common ancestor characters and S. peregrina is out of a group of S. ruficornis and S. dux. The results showed that the value of COI gene as an identification marker, since its nucleotide variability endows reliable distinction to be drawn between species. These sequences can be used for correct species identification for future workers.