The complete mitochondrial genome of Diaphania pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

First record of the complete mitochondrial genome of Botyodes diniasalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

We performed the first sequencing of the complete mitogenome of Botyodes diniasalis by high-throughput sequencing. A circular DNA molecule of 15,219 bp in size, encoding 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, and 13 PCGs, contains a non-coding AT-rich region. The overall nucleotide composition of the genome is A (39.5%), T (41.3%), C (11.3%), and G (7.8%). Phylogenetic analysis based on mitogenomic data suggest that the species B. diniasalis has a close evolutionary relationship with B. principalis in Margaroniini. The complete mitogenome of B. diniasalis will serve as a valuable resource for future studies on evolution, taxonomy, genetic conservation, and utilization of Botyodes.

Complete mitochondrial genomes of two moths in the tribe Trichaeini (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and their phylogenetic implications

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two Prophantis species in the tribe Trichaeini (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) were sequenced using high-throughput sequencing technology. They were assembled and annotated: The complete mitogenomes of P. octoguttalis and P. adusta were 15,197 and 15,714 bp, respectively, and contain 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and an A + T-rich region. Their arrangement was consistent with the first sequenced mitogenome of Bombyx mori (Bombycidae) in Lepidoptera, which had the trnM-trnI-trnQ rearrangement. The nucleotide composition was obviously AT-biased, and all PCGs, except for the cox1 gene (CGA), used ATN as the start codon. Except for trnS1, which lacked the DHU stem, all tRNA genes could fold into the clover-leaf structure. The features of these two mitogenomes were highly consistent with those of other species of Spilomelinae in previous studies. Phylogenetic trees of Crambidae were reconstructed based on mitogenomic data using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis methods. Results showed that Trichaeini in this study robustly constitute a monophyletic group in Spilomelinae, with the relationships (Trichaeini + Nomophilini) + ((Spilomelini + (Hymeniini + Agroterini)) + Margaroniini). However, the affinities of the six subfamilies Acentropinae, Crambinae, Glaphyriinae, Odontiinae, Schoenobiinae, and Scopariinae within the "non-PS Clade" in Crambidae remained doubtful with unstable topologies or low supports.

Nine Mitochondrial Genomes of the Pyraloidea and Their Phylogenetic Implications (Lepidoptera)

Simple Summary

The Pyraloidea is a large superfamily of Lepidoptera in species composition. To date, the higher-level phylogenetic relationships in this group remain unresolved, and many taxa, with taxonomic positions historically established by morphological characters, need to be confirmed through sequencing of DNA, including mitochondrial genome sequences (mitogenomes). Here, we newly generated nine complete mitogenomes for Pyraloidea that shared identical gene content, and arrangements that are typical of Lepidoptera. The current phylogenetic results confirmed previous multilocus studies, indicating the effectiveness of mitogenomes for inference of Pyraloidea higher-level relationships. Unexpectedly, Orybina Snellen was robustly placed as basal to the remaining Pyralidae taxa, rather than nested in the Pyralinae of Pyralidae as morphologically defined and placed. Our results bring a greater understanding to Pyraloidea phylogeny, and highlight the necessity of sequencing more pyraloid taxa to reevaluate their phylogenetic positions.

Abstract

The Pyraloidea is one of the species-rich superfamilies of Lepidoptera and contains numerous economically important pest species that cause great loss in crop production. Here, we sequenced and annotated nine complete mitogenomes for Pyraloidea, and further performed various phylogenetic analyses, to improve our understanding of mitogenomic evolution and phylogeny of this superfamily. The nine mitogenomes were circular, double-stranded molecules, with the lengths ranging from 15,214 bp to 15,422 bp, which are comparable to other reported pyraloid mitogenomes in size. Gene content and arrangement were highly conserved and are typical of Lepidoptera. Based on the hitherto most extensive mitogenomic sampling, our various resulting trees showed generally congruent topologies among pyraloid subfamilies, which are almost in accordance with previous multilocus studies, indicating the suitability of mitogenomes in inferring high-level relationships of Pyraloidea. However, nodes linking subfamilies in the “non-PS clade” were not completely resolved in terms of unstable topologies or low supports, and future investigations are needed with increased taxon sampling and molecular data. Unexpectedly, Orybina Snellen, represented in a molecular phylogenetic investigation for the first time, was robustly placed as basal to the remaining Pyralidae taxa across our analyses, rather than nested in Pyralinae of Pyralidae as morphologically defined. This novel finding highlights the need to reevaluate Orybina monophyly and its phylogenetic position by incorporating additional molecular and morphological evidence.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Cnidocampa flavescens (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae)

Cnidocampa flavescens, lives in Nepal, Bhutan, China, Far East of Russia, Korea, and Japan, belongs to the Lepidoptera family Limacodidae. In this study, we describe the genomic features of the mitogenome sequences of the insects. The mitogenome of C. flavescens is 15,406 bp long consisting a typical set of genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes) and one major 415 bp non-coding A + T-rich region. All PCGs of C. flavescens start with ATN codons and end with TAA codons. The gene arrangement of C. flavescens mitogenome is same to Monema flavescens while the intergenic spacers and overlaps are different. The 415 bp A + T-rich region contains a conserved ATAGA motif followed a poly-T stretch.