Molecular identification of Alopecosa genus (Araneae:Lycosidae) with DNA barcode analysis in Gaziantep

In this study, spiders of the genus Alopecosa (Aranae: Lycosidae) collected from in Gaziantep province were characterized using morphological and molecular methods. Between the months of February-November 2014, 76 samples were analyzed. On the basis of morphological study of only the adult individuals, 4 species (Alopecosa aculeata (Clerck, 1757) , A. kuntzi Denis, 1953, A. cuneata (Clerck, 1757) and A. accentuata (Latreille, 1817) were identified. Molecular analysis of the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene in both adult and juvenile specimens was carried out and revealed the same species. The morphological and molecular data were consistent with each other. As a result of this study, Alopecosa kuntzi was newly registered to the Turkey spider inventory. Keywords: Alopecosa, COI, DNA barcoding, Gaziantep, spider.