New DNA Barcode Data for Jewel Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from Azerbaijan: A Contribution Toward a National DNA Barcode Reference Library

Abstract

Jewel beetles (Buprestidae) are one of the diverse families of Coleoptera and are important for biodiversity assessment and ecosystem monitoring. Despite the rich fauna of Buprestidae in Azerbaijan, DNA barcode data for species occurring in Azerbaijan have not previously been available. This study aimed to generate new DNA barcode data for Azerbaijani jewel beetles using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. A COI fragment was successfully amplified and sequenced for 34 species representing 11 genera and five subfamilies. All DNA barcode sequences were deposited in BOLD Systems, and COI data for all 34 species were deposited in GenBank. The obtained COI sequences were compared with publicly available reference sequences to assess their taxonomic correspondence and sequence similarity. The resulting dataset substantially expands the publicly available molecular reference data for jewel beetles from Azerbaijan and contributes to the development of a national DNA barcode reference library. The dataset provides a valuable resource for future taxonomic, biodiversity, faunistic, and DNA-based species identification studies of Buprestidae in Azerbaijan.