A genetic and chemical study of six Oedipodinae species (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Acrididae) from Algeria

The Oedipodinae subfamily is the most species-rich and numerically abundant group of Acrididae in Algeria. Here, genetic and chemical data were used to characterize the identities of six species: Oedipoda miniata mauritanica (Lucas, 1849); Acrotylus patruelis (Herrich-Shaeffer, 1838); A. insubricus insubricus (Scopoli, 1786); Sphingonotus (Neosphingonotus) azurescens (Rambur, 1838); Sphingonotus (Neosphingonotus) finotianus (Saussure, 1885); and Sphingoderus carinatus (Saussure, 1888). Individuals were collected from two different sites in the Sétif region of northeastern Algeria. First, specimens were classified based on their morphological traits. Second, phylogenetic analysis was performed using DNA barcoding data (COI gene). Third, the specimens’ cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) were analyzed. The phylogenetic analysis revealed clear distinctions among the species. The chemotaxonomic analysis highlighted CHC profile similarities between S. azurescens and S. finotianus and CHC profile differences between A. patruelis and A. i. insubricus. Compared to S. azurescens and S. finotianus, S. carinatus had n-alkanes and trimethylalkanes with much shorter carbon chains. The genetic and chemical data obtained here have helped clarify differences within and between genera. These data also enabled to clearly distinguish among the six species.