DNA barcoding reveals an unexpected diversity in Old World Vermileonidae (Diptera). DNA barcoding in Old World Vermileonidae

Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood were used to analyse the DNA sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene of 69 wormlion specimens (Diptera: Vermileonidae). Most of the studied individuals belong to Old World taxa and belong to four genera, i.e., Vermileo (n=53), Lampromyia (n=13), Vermipardus (n=2), and Leptynoma (n=1). Species of the genus Vermileo were resolved into two distinct groups, with the analysed Nearctic species placed in a distinct grouping from the Palaearctic taxa. Old World Vermileo species were grouped together with the western and eastern Palaearctic species grouped separately. Eight unnamed genetic lineages within the Palaearctic members of the genus Vermileo were identified, separated by at least 3.8% p distance, and are regarded as putative species. Vermileo cylindraceus (Costa, 1844) stat. rev. is reinstated as a valid species.