Unmasking the Nymph: Taxonomic Delimitation of Pygolampis foeda Stål, 1859 Revealed through Mitochondrial COI Barcoding and Cybertaxonomy

Pygolampis foeda, an assassin bug, is a good biological pest control species was recorded from Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bihar. In spite of its ecological significance, the taxonomic status of this organism has been confused by morphological indeterminacy, to carry out morphology-based identification especially at early life developmental stages such as the nymphs. This article explores the use of DNA barcoding and cybertaxonomy in refining the identification of P. foeda, in agroecosystems by considering the economic value. By combining cybertaxonomy with molecular tools such as COI Barcoding and Phylogenetic Analysis, we explore P. foeda’s evolutionary identity from nymphal life stages and advocate its consideration in sustainable pest management programmes.