Structural Features and Phylogenetic Implications of Three New Mitochondrial Genomes of Blister Beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

Abstract

The mitochondrial genome sequences of Denierella emmerichi, Epicauta curvispina, and Meloe poggii were determined. Their mitochondrial genomes were found to contain 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes [PCGs], 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNAs), of which 4 PCGs, 8 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNAs are encoded by the N-strand, and the remaining genes are encoded by the J-strand. The mitochondrial genomes of D. emmerichi, E. curvispina, and M. poggii are 15,702 bp, 15,813 bp, and 15,626 bp in length, respectively, and their guanine-cytosine contents are 28%, 33%, and 36%, respectively. The 13 PCGs of D. emmerichi, E. curvispina, and M. poggii use ATN as the standard start codon and TAA, TAG, and T as the stop codons. The Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis results based on the 13 PCGs and 13 PCGs + 2rRNAs datasets of the mitochondrial genomes of the Meloidae support Epicauta (Coleoptera: Meloidae) ([D. emmerichi, E. curvispina, E. ruficeps, E. aptera] + [E. chinensis, E. impressicornis, E. gorhami, E. tibialis]). We believe that this research enriches the literature on the mitochondrial genomics of Meloidae and serves as a foundation for the further study of the phylogenetic relationships and characterization of Meloidae and Coleoptera.

Keywords: Meloidae; genomics; medicinal insect; mitochondrial genome; phylogenetics.