The complete mitochondrial genome of Acanthaspis geniculata (Hsiao, 1976) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and its phylogenetic analyses

Complete mitogenome of Pelecorhynchus vulpes (Macquart) (Diptera: Pelecorhynchidae) and its phylogenetics implications on Tabanomorpha

The infraorder Tabanomorpha represents a key lineage within the lower Brachycera; however, the phylogenetic placement of several families, including Pelecorhynchidae, remains incompletely resolved owing to the lack of mitogenomic data. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of Pelecorhynchus vulpes (Macquart, 1850), representing the first mitogenome reported for both the genus and the family. The circular genome is 15,390 bp in length and comprises a typical set of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. The genome exhibits a strong A+T bias (78.4%) and retains the ancestral insect gene arrangement. Comparative analyses revealed a high degree of structural conservation with other Tabanomorpha, particularly in Tabanidae and Athericidae. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated mitochondrial protein-coding and ribosomal genes, using both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood approaches, support Pelecorhynchidae as a sister lineage to Athericidae and Tabanidae. These findings provide new genomic evidence supporting the phylogenetic placement of Pelecorhynchidae and contribute to understanding of the evolutionary relationships within Tabanomorpha. Additionally, the phylogenetic affinity between the Chilean and Australasian representatives of Pelecorhynchus is consistent with a Gondwanan origin for the group, although alternative scenarios, such as long-distance dispersal, cannot be excluded. This study highlights the importance of mitogenomic data from underrepresented lineages and provides information for new integrative studies that combine mitochondrial and nuclear data to resolve the evolutionary history of Tabanomorpha.

The first two complete mitochondrial genomes for the genus Neotrichoporoides (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and their phylogenetic analysis

Abstract Neotrichoporoides belongs to the family Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). As a group of parasitic wasps, it plays an indispensable role in the biological control of agricultural and forest pests and in maintaining ecosystem balance. To date, only nine complete mitochondrial genomes of Eulophidae have been sequenced worldwide, including the two newly sequenced species in this study. To enrich our understanding of the mitochondrial genomic diversity of Eulophidae and to provide preliminary insights into its phylogenetic relationships, we sequenced and comparatively analyzed the mitochondrial genomes of two Neotrichoporoides species. The mitogenomes of N. nyemitawus (GenBank: PZ188956; 15,164 bp) and N. viridimaculatus (GenBank: PX794932; 15,297 bp) contain 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one control region (CR), and exhibit a strong AT bias, with AT contents of 85.5% and 85.0%, respectively. We further analyzed mitochondrial gene rearrangements across 17 species from Encyrtidae, Eulophidae and Pteromalidae and summarized family-specific rearrangement characteristics. tRNA rearrangements were detected in all three families. Eulophidae harbors conserved PCGs, while the inverse transposition of trnA and transposition of trnV are likely reported for the first time within this family. The two Neotrichoporoides species differ only in the arrangement of several tRNAs. Comparative analysis of PCGs revealed differences in molecular evolutionary rates among genes, with ATP8, ND2 and ND4 evolving faster than the others. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genome sequences showed that species from two subfamilies formed a monophyletic group, and congeneric species clustered into a single clade. This study contributes to resolving phylogenetic relationships within Eulophidae and further deepens our understanding of this family.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Pammene nemorosa (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) and its phylogenetic placement within Grapholitini

The intergeneric attraction of Pammene nemorosa to sex pheromone traps targeting the Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), may compromise the reliability of pest monitoring in apple orchards, yet the evolutionary context of this behavioral overlap remains unclear. Here, we sequenced and characterized the first complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of P. nemorosa and assessed its phylogenetic position within the tribe Grapholitini. The circular mitogenome is 15,457 bp long and contains the canonical set of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes, with a gene order typical of ditrysian Lepidoptera. The genome exhibits a pronounced A + T bias (80.1%), and its 484-bp control region contains a tandem duplication of an approximately 215-bp sequence unit, with each repeat copy marked by an ATAGA motif. Phylogenetic analyses based on Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian Inference consistently recovered P. nemorosa as sister to the Grapholita clade (G. dimorpha + G. molesta), with strong Bayesian support (posterior probability = 0.999), highlighting a potential discordance between its mitochondrial phylogenetic position and its current morphological classification within Pammene. These findings establish the first complete mitogenomic resource for P. nemorosa and provide a phylogenetic framework for interpreting its close evolutionary affinity with Grapholita species. Although mitochondrial data alone cannot establish the functional mechanisms underlying heterospecific pheromone attraction, the genomic resource established here provides a baseline for future integrative studies combining nuclear genomics, transcriptomics, and chemical ecology, and contributes to a broader understanding of the evolutionary relationships and ecological interactions within Grapholitini.

MITOGENOME REPORT The complete mitochondrial genome of the thrips predator Montandoniola moraguesi (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and its phylogenetic analysis

Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Endemic Loach Leptobotia tchangi and Its Phylogenetic Placement Within Botiidae

Background: Leptobotia tchangi is a loach species endemic to South China, but its mitochondrial genome has not yet been characterized, limiting understanding of its evolutionary relationships and conservation genetics. Methods: Here, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome of L. tchangi, using next-generation sequencing, assembly and bioinformatics analyses. Results: The double-stranded circular mitogenome has 16,590 bp and contains: 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a non-coding control region (D-loop) containing conserved ETAS and CSB motifs. The overall base composition is 25.0% thymine (T), 27.9% cytosine (C), 31.1% adenine (A), and 16.0% guanine (G), showing a clear A + T bias (56.1%) which is consistent with other Botiidae mitogenomes. To infer the phylogenetic placement of L. tchangi within Botiidae, we conducted both Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated PCG sequences. Our results strongly support (1) the monophyly of the subfamilies Leptobotiinae and Botiinae, as well as the monophyly of each genus within the family Botiidae; (2) three sister-group relationships within Botiinae: (Botia + Chromobotia), (Ambastaia + Sinibotia), and (Syncrossus + Yasuhikotakia), with the latter two species groups also being sister groups; (3) L. tchangi being most closely related to Leptobotia taeniops. Conclusions: These findings not only provide essential molecular markers for the species identification and conservation genetics of L. tchangi, but also clarify the taxonomic status of L. tchangi within Botiidae.

The complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Urceola huaitingii (Chun & Tsiang) D. J. Middleton 1994 (Apocynaceae)

Abstract Urceola huaitingii (Chun & Tsiang) D. J. Middleton 1994, a member of the Apocynaceae family, is widely distributed across southern and southwestern China and has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat hemiplegia and paralysis. In this study, we report the first complete chloroplast genome of U. huaitingii and perform phylogenetic analysis with 30 related species within the Apocynaceae. The chloroplast genome of U. huaitingii is 155,182 bp in length and has a GC content of 38.11%. It displays a typical quadripartite structure, consisting of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,254 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,242 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,843 bp each. A total of 111 unique genes were annotated, including 77 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that U. huaitingii is closely related to the genera Aganosma, Trachelospermum, and Amalocalyx. This study provides the first chloroplast genomic resource for the genus Urceola, laying a foundation for future investigations into its evolutionary relationships. It also contributes to future molecular and phylogenetic studies within the Apocynaceae family.