Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene sequences of four species of Rhynocoris Kolenati, four Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone and the morphs of Rhynocoris marginatus (Fabricius) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae)

Abstract

The present study is on the phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI gene of four species of Rhynocoris Kolenati, viz., Rhynocoris fuscipes (Fabricius), Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone, Rhynocoris longifrons (Stal) and Rhynocoris marginatus (Fabricius), four ecotypes of R. kumarii viz., Kalthuruthy (RK-KAZ), Maruthuvazhmalai (RK-MAR), Muppandal (RK-MUP), Theni (RK-THE) and three morphs of R. marginatus viz. Niger (RM-NIG), Nigrosanguineous (RM-NSAN), and Niger banded morphs of R. marginatus (RM-NB). The nucleotide sequences of Rhynocoris species, ecotypes and morphs revealed intrageneric diagnostic characteristics as well as interspecific genetic variations among the four Rhynocoris and interecotypic and intermorphic peculiarities. The understating of such characteristics and variation in the phylogenetic reconstruction of family Reduviidae is discussed.