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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Taxonomic characterization and molecular confirmation of Eristalinus paria (Bigot, 1880) collected from Berberis lycium Royle in the Northwestern Himalayas, India
Authors
Monika Kaundal, Mahender Singh Thakur
Abstract
Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are important pollinators and
biological control agents in diverse ecosystems. This study provides an
integrated morphological and molecular description of Eristalinus paria collected
from the flowers of Berberis lycium in the northwestern region of India
in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Several locations were sampled in April-May
2024, and adult specimens were analysed based on diagnostic morphological
characteristics. Wing venation examination revealed a typical syrphid
morphology, with a vena spuria and sinuate R4+5 vein. Mitochondrial COI
gene sequencing generated a fragment of 621 bp (GenBank accession: PQ329353),
which showed 99.84% similarity with the reference sequence (OK444104), confirming
species identity. The close floral association of E. paria with B.
lycium, a medicinally important and endangered shrub, highlights the
crucial ecological role of syrphid pollinators in sustaining Himalayan
biodiversity. This study contributes to the regional DNA barcoding database and
supports integrative taxonomy as a vital tool for documenting and conserving
important pollinators of mountain habitats.
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Pages:40-43
How to cite this article:
Monika Kaundal, Mahender Singh Thakur "Taxonomic characterization and molecular confirmation of <i>Eristalinus paria</i> (Bigot, 1880) collected<i> </i>from <i>Berberis lycium</i> Royle in the Northwestern Himalayas, India". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 40-43
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