First Record and Molecular-Genetic Characterization of <i>Polistes riparius</i> (hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Uzbekistan

This study analyses the morphology and mtCO1 gene of the wasp Polistes riparius Sk. et S Yamane collected from the mountainous region of Southern Fergana, Uzbekistan. Morphological analysis reveals sexual dimorphism based on differences in body length, coloration patterns, number of antennal segments, and genital structures. In the molecular-genetic analysis, a 437 bp fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene was isolated and found to be completely identical to P. riparius (LC519884) in GenBank. Comparison with P. dominulus (EF136434) revealed 20 nucleotide differences, corresponding to a 4.57% genetic divergence. A phylogenetic tree constructed using the IQ-TREE method showed that the Fergana specimen formed a distinct cluster with 76% bootstrap support. These findings suggest that the P. riparius population in Southern Fergana represents a stable and genetically distinct unit.