The complete mitochondrial genome of Graphomya rufitibia (Diptera: Muscidae)

The first mitochondrial genome of Meroplius fukuharai (Diptera: Sepsidae)

Meroplius fukuharai is an important sanitary and ecological resource insect. We sequenced and annotated the mitogenome of Meroplius fukuharai which is the first representative of the genus Meroplius with nearly complete mitochondrial data. This mitogenome is 14,803 bp long, which consists of 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and two ribosomal RNA genes. All genes have a conservational arrangement with other published species of Sepsidae. Our results also supported the monophyly of Sepsidae, and the genus Meroplius is more closely related to genus Sepsis, Microsepsis, and Archisepsis.

Phylogeny and Evolutionary Timescale of Muscidae (Diptera: Calyptratae) Inferred from Mitochondrial Genomes

House flies (Muscidae) comprise the most species-rich family of the muscoid grade with over 5000 described species worldwide, and they are abundant in various terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The high number of species, varied appearances, complex feeding habits, and wide distributions have hindered researchers from understanding their phylogeny and evolutionary history. Here, we newly sequenced fifteen mitochondrial genomes and reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships and divergence time among eight subfamilies of Muscidae (Diptera). The best phylogenetic tree, which was inferred by IQ-Tree, recovered the monophyly for seven out of eight subfamilies (except for Mydaeinae). Based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological characteristics, we prefer the subfamily status of Azeliinae and Reinwardtiinae, and separate Stomoxyinae from Muscinae. Genus Helina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 was synonymized with Phaonia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830. The divergence time estimation indicated Muscidae originated at 51.59 Ma (early Eocene). Most subfamilies had originated around 41 Ma. We provided a mtgenomic viewpoint on the phylogenetic relationships and divergence time estimation of Muscidae.

The first mitochondrial genome of Sepsis monostigma (Diptera: Sepsidae)

The sepsid fly Sepsis monostigma belongs to the genus Sepsis of Sepsidae. We sequenced and annotated the mitogenome of S. monostigma which as the first representative of genus Sepsis with nearly complete mitochondrial data. This mitogenome is 14,887bp long, which contains of 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein coding genes (PCGs) and 2 ribosomal RNA genes and a part of the AT control region. ML phylogenetic outcome strongly supported the monophyly of Sepsidae, and the family Sepsidae is more close to the family Heleomyzidae. It also indicated that the genus Sepsis is the sister group to Nemopoda, and the genus Archisepsis is the sister group to Microsepsis.

Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes among four species of muscid flies (Diptera: Muscidae) and its phylogenetic implications

Muscidae, commonly known as house flies and their close relatives, is one of the dipteran insects of recognized medical, veterinary, and ecological importance. Mitochondrial genomes (Mitogenomes) have been widely used for exploring phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic diagnosis due to the difficulty in distinguishing them morphologically. In this study, our complete mitogenomes of muscid flies were sequenced and aligned, which ranged from 15,117 bp (Synthesiomyia nudiseta) to 16,089 bp (Musca sorbens) in length, and contained a typical circular molecule comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and a non-coding control region. The order and orientation of genes were identical with that from the ancestral insects. The phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial genes indicated that the subfamily relationships within Muscidae were reconstructed as (Mydaeinae (Muscinae (Reinwardtiinae + Azeliinae))). Similar tree topologies were recovered from both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) analysis. Furthermore, we compared the phylogenetic analyses that were constructed using internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), elongation factor-1α (EF-1α), 13 PCGs and 13 PCGs + ITS2 + EF-1α, respectively. Combined analysis of nuclear gene partitions improved support and resolution for resulting topologies but the positions of branches were obviously inconsistent due to limited species. More mitogenomes should be sequenced representing various taxonomic levels, especially close related species, which will enhance our understanding of phylogenetic relationships among muscids.