Barcoding Specimens
Specimen 1 1 Class Bivalvia Linnaeus, bivalves Order Unionoida Stoliczka, 1871 Family Unionidae Fleming, 1828 Genus Epioblasma Rafinesque, 1831 Species Epioblasma torulosa (Rafinesque, 1820) tubercled blossom Wabash County, Illinois EXTINCT
Specimen 2 2 Class Insecta -- insects Order Coleoptera -- beetles Family Scarabaeidae -- scarab beetle Genus Melolontha Species Melolontha melolontha (L., 1758) common cockchafer, May bug Hungary Very distinctive, but European
Specimen 3 3 Class Clitellata/Hirudinea Lamarck, leeches Order Arhynchobdellida Blanchard, 1894 Family Erpobdellidae Blanchard, 1894 Genus Erpobdella de Blainville, 1818 Species Erpobdella punctata (Leidy, 1870) Leech (no common name) Illinois Common & widespread in NA Not very distinctive
Specimen 4 New species, no PEET program! Psocid (no common name) Arizona Class Insecta -- insects Order Psocoptera -- psocids Family Myopsocidae Genus Myopsocus Species Myopsocus sp. n. 4
Specimen 5 Fly Agaric Illinois Class Homobasidiomycetae Order Agaricales -- stereotypical mushrooms Family Amanitaceae Genus Amanita Species Amanita muscaria var. formosa 5 e.g. of CONTAMINATION! Vouchering essential, No COI
Conclusions Some specimens unsuitable for barcoding e.g. Fossilized/Extinct taxa No COI for many taxa Many taxa difficult/impossible to ID with e.g. immature specimens, cryptic taxa etc morphology No specialists for many taxa No training necessary for barcoding! Already in use for many taxa ( bacteria, fungi, Cetacea)