Diversity of Parasitoid Wasps and Comparison of Sampling Strategies in Rice Fields Using Metabarcoding.

Simple Summary: DNA metabarcoding was used to survey the biodiversity of parasitoid wasps in rice fields. DNA was collected from tissue samples of selected parasitoid wasps in the ethanol of Malaise traps. The results demonstrated the utility of the ethanol filter method for obtaining species information. However, it may lack detailed information and potentially lead to a reduced estimate of species richness. We also identified additional insect species in the parasitoid samples through metabarcoding. The results demonstrate the efficacy of high throughput sequencing on adult parasitoid wasps to determine their host associations. These data enhance the understanding of host species and provide insights into food web dynamics. A comprehensive and precise evaluation of Arthropoda diversity in agricultural landscapes can enhance biological pest control strategies. We used Malaise traps and sweep nets to collect insects from three double-cropping paddy fields. DNA was extracted from the ethanol preservative of the Malaise traps and from tissue samples of selected parasitoid wasps. This was followed by amplification using DNA barcoding primers to prepare high-throughput sequencing libraries. We annotated a total of 4956 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), encompassing 174 genera and 32 families of parasitoid wasps. The ethanol filter method efficiently captured a wide range of information. However, the method has low resolution and may result in a reduced estimate of species abundance. Additional insect species were also identified in the parasitoid samples. This suggests that high throughput sequencing from adult parasitoid wasps can also detect host species, enabling a better understanding of host species and providing insights into food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]