The first DNA barcode survey of insects from Lebanon

Lebanon's diverse landscapes and rich ecological zones support a high diversity of insect species, many of which remain taxonomically unresolved. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted the first comprehensive DNA barcoding survey of Lebanese insect diversity. Specimens collected using Malaise traps deployed at four sites between 2019 and 2021 were analyzed for sequence variation in the 658 bp barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The 58 123 insect specimens included representatives of 5747 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), and 56% of them are unique to Lebanon. By integrating DNA barcoding with morphological taxonomy, we assigned each BIN to one of 20 insect orders and identified 1224 species. Most specimens (95%) belonged to five dominant orders: Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera. The high proportion of unique BINs suggests high endemism within Lebanon and the broader Levant region. By generating a foundational inventory for Lebanon's insect fauna, this study has provided baseline data critical for future biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning in the Eastern Mediterranean while also making a substantial contribution to the global DNA barcode reference library.