Molecular Identification of the Economically Important Invasive Citrus Root Weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The article reports on the study that identifies the economical importance of citrus root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (D. abbreviatus). It develops a sensitive barcoding technique based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplification and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene to use in identification of eggs, larvae and adults of the citrus root weevil, D. abbreviatus. It shows that the molecular tool provides accurate species identification for management and quarantine decisions of the pest.