Genetic diversity of Iranian populations of melolonthids (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Melolonthidae) based on mtDNA analysis

Melolonthids species is a widespread family comprising some important genus including Polyphylla and Melolontha.Morphological studies the existence of few diagnostic characters that separate species for some closely related species.For these reasons, several species and subspecies have been recognized based on highly variable morphological.In this study we analyze the nucleotide sequences of a fragment of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I of some geographical populations of most destructive white grub of the Iran , Polyphylla olivieri as well other species.New information about genetic diversity among populations of this melolonthid has prepared and discussed.Phylogenetic relationship analysed using different methods.This is the first data about diversity and phylogeny of this group.