Tiny insects, big troubles: a review of BOLD's COI database for Thysanoptera (Insecta)

DNA Barcoding is an important tool for disciplines such as taxonomy, phylogenetics and phylogeography, with Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) being the largest database of partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. We provide the first extensive revision of the information available in this database for the insect order Thysanoptera, to assess: how many COI sequences are available; how representative these sequences are for the order; and the current potential of BOLD as a reference library for specimen identification and species delimitation. The COI database at BOLD currently represents only about 5% of the over 6400 valid thrips species, with a heavy bias towards a few species of economic importance. Clear Barcode gaps were observed for 24 out of 33 genera evaluated, but many outliers were also observed. We suggest that the COI sequences available in BOLD as a reference would not allow for accurate identifications in about 30% of Thysanoptera species in this database, which rises to 40% of taxa within Thripidae, the most sampled family within the order. Thus, we call for caution and a critical evaluation in using BOLD as a reference library for thrips Barcodes, and future efforts should focus on improving the data quality of this database.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Aeolothrips indicus Bhatti, 1964 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Here, we have generated the complete mitochondrial sequence of Aeolothrips indicus Bhatti, 1964. So far, this is the first largest mitogenome with 17,042 bp length in order Thysanoptera. It includes 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes along with three non-coding regions. AT composition of A. indicus is 72.5% (37.7% A and 34.8% T) and GC 27.5% (15.6% C and 11.9% G). The constructed phylogeny revealed the monophyly of family Aeolothripidae in the order Thysanoptera. The data would provide further insight into the evolution and phylogeny of the order Thysanoptera.