article · International Journal of Tropical Insect Science
Traditional taxonomical keys provide an accessible and cost-effective means of identifying dung beetles, but genetic tools offer deeper insight into their relationships. In north-eastern Namibia, dung beetles collected using baited pitfall traps were analysed through cytochrome c oxidase subunit I DNA barcoding and phylogenetic methods. Genomic DNA was isolated, amplified, and processed through sequence alignment and neighbour-joining phylogenetic analysis. This work generated 62 DNA barcodes, successfully identifying 15 species across 27 samples with high match percentages, while 35 sequences did not match existing database entries. The resulting phylogenetic tree grouped species across the genera Onthophagus, Milichus, and Caccobius within the tribe Onthophagini, and clustered 32 species into three primary clades alongside two outlier species. As the initial genetic barcoding effort for Namibian dung beetles, these results deliver precise molecular reference points to better map local biodiversity.
Accurate insect identification is essential for monitoring environmental health and biodiversity, yet many African species remain absent from global genetic libraries. By establishing verified DNA barcodes for local dung beetles, this work helps build regional genomic reference collections. These reference sequences allow researchers and conservation managers to rapidly identify species, detect undescribed taxa, and track ecological changes with greater precision than morphological keys alone permit.
The abstract does not indicate a direct application pathway or commercial use, representing early-stage taxonomic baseline research.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract Taxonomical Keys have been used in the identification of dung beetle species due to their cost-effectiveness and accessibility. The aim of this study was to determine the DNA barcoding and phylogenetic relations of dung beetles in north-eastern Namibia. Sampling of dung beetles was done using baited pitfall traps. The collected Dung beetles were preserved in DNA/RNA Shield solution. The genomic DNA was isolated using blood and tissue Quick-DNA Miniprep Plus Kit. COI universal primers were used for PCR amplification. The sequence FASTA files were aligned using the multiple alignments ClustalW software, and the Phylogenetic relationships by neighbour-joining analysis were performed using the MEGA12 software. A total of 62 DNA barcodes of dung beetle species were accomplished, from which 15 species from 27 sequenced samples were identified with a percentage of 95–100%, while 35 dung beetle sequences were not retrieved from the database. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree showed 9 species of the genera Onthophagus , Milichus , and Caccobius of the tribe Onthophagini separated from each other and grouped together with the bootstrap value (> 95%). The clustering examination divided the 32 species into three main clades, while two species appeared separately from the three clades. This study was the first report of DNA barcodes specifically for Namibian dung beetles. The DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis application for molecular identification in dung beetles provides valuable and accurate information which is useful for understanding their diversity.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1007/s42690-026-01971-8
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
