Matching sexually dimorphic wasps using DNA barcoding

Within the parasitoid aculeate family Bethylidae, Pristocerinae is a subfamily known for their extreme sexual dimorphism - males are winged, have ocelli, and large eyes while females are wingless, lack ocelli, and have severely reduced or missing eyes. Most Pristocerinae species descriptions are only known from either a male or female (rarely both), and unless collected while mating or reared from the same host, conspecific association is impossible. In this study, our objective is to examine the suitability of DNA barcoding using Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I to match sexually dimorphic males and females of the same species. From Pristocerinae collected from Malaise traps and soil sifting, we extracted DNA using Qiagen Blood and Tissue kits, conducted PCR amplification of the COI gene, and had Sanger sequencing reactions performed at the University of Arizona Genetics Core. With this sequence data, we will attempt to match males and females together based on percent similarity and by generating phylogenetic trees. Over the Summer 2021 field collecting season, we hope to obtain copulating pairs or rear wasps from parasitized hosts to compare with our molecular results and provide commentary on the accuracy of COI as a tool for conspecific associations.