First molecular evidence of Penthaleus major (Dugés) (Penthaleidae) in Brazil

Penthaleus major (Dugés) (Penthaleidae) is an invasive pest in Brazil, first detected in 2009, attacking oat plants in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. This pest went unnoticed for almost 12 years until 2020 when suspected specimens of a blue mite were collected on oat plants in the municipalities of André da Rocha and Cachoeira do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Genomic DNA was extracted from these specimens and used for PCR amplification of a region of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI). The amplified fragments were sequenced, and the genetic sequences obtained were compared with those in GenBank. The results confirm, for the first time, the presence of the species P. major in Brazil using DNA barcoding. Further analysis revealed the presence of a single and specific haplotype in the country, suggesting either a single invasion or multiple invasions with the same maternal lineage.