Identification of megaselia scalaris (diptera : phoridae) based on morphology and mitochondrial 16s rRNA and coi gene sequences

Abstract

Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae), commonly known as scuttle fly, is
widely distributed all over the world. It is easily cultured in the laboratory
condition making it a potential model organism. Besides, it has forensic
importance. However, no report from Bangladesh could be retrieved about this
fly. So, in the present study, identification of this species was attempted using
both morphological and molecular approaches. Characteristics of male
hypopygium and legs played key roles in morphological identification. To
strengthen identification, mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA gene fragments were
amplified and sequenced. Blast search at NCBI provided highest hits to available
COI and 16S rRNA sequences of M. scalaris. A neighbor joining phylogenetic tree
was built using sequences of respective COI gene region to show its relationship
among other closely related dipteran flies.