FIRST MITOCHONDRIAL GENOME REPORT OF TRICHOFERUS FISSITARSIS SAMA, FALLAHZADEH AND RAPUZZI 2005 (COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE) WITH MORPHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

The long-horned beetle, Trichoferus fissitarsis Sama, Fallahzadeh, and Rapuzzi 2005, is one of the most dangerous pests on fig trees, Ficus carica, in the Kurdistan Region- Iraq. In the current study, this species had been genetically reported in GenBank for the first time. However, it was recorded in Cerambycidae checklists from Iraq by its synonym Hesperophanes sericeus (Fab., 1787). Hereby, for the misidentification of this species and to solve the problem of identification, the molecular technique based on the mitochondrial partial gene mt COXI was exposed, and via this technique, and based on the COXI nucleotide sequence, the phylogenetic analysis was constructed for illuminating the species group, and their relations with other recorded species which belonged to the tribe Hesperophanini Mulsant, 1839. Also, the taxonomic status of this species has been discussed. Meanwhile, some illustrated evidence on the damage signs, host plants and morphological characteristics were constructed, described and illustrated clearly.