Arecanut white grubs Leucopholis species (Melolonthinae: Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera) morphological, molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis

Arecanut (Areca catechu) is one of the most important commercial crops in India, which grows extensively in the malnad and coastal areas. White grubs are the most important pests on this crop and cause considerable yield loss. Surveys were conducted to record species that are infested with white grubs of Karnataka and Kerala states. Three species of white grubs were collected and described using morphological and molecular characters. A detailed study of male genitalial structures such as aedeagus and endophallus in three species of Leucopholis Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) viz., Leucopholis lepidophora Blanchard, 1850, Leucopholis burmeisteri Brenske, 1894 and Leucopholis coneophora Burmeister, 1855 showed substantial differences. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene was sequenced for molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis in this respect. L. lepidophora, L. burmeisteri and L. coneophora species were successfully identified by employing COXI gene. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the COXI DNA barcode fragment of Leucopholis species and out-group taxa, available in genetic databases, confirms the species identity.