The complete mitochondrial genome of Meloe proscarabaeus (Coleoptera, Meloidae): genome descriptions and phylogenetic inferences

By

Chen, Song
Liu, Changhua
Hao, Yuanmin
Liu, Yueyue
Liu, Xu
Du, Chao

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1109

Pages

103--114

Subjects

Genome feature , meloid , Mitogenome , oil beetle , phylogenetic relationship

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1109.81544

 

Abstract

Oil beetles are meloids, which are characterised for their cleptoparasitic habits in bee nests and oily fluid of cantharidin that causes blistering and swelling of the skin. The complete mitochondrial genome of Meloe proscarabaeus is determined using the next-generation sequencing technology and its genomic characteristics are described. The 15,653-bp long genome is a circular molecule consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), 22 transport RNA, two ribosomal RNA, and a control region. The A + T bias of the mitochondrial genome is manifested in the complete sequence and the codon usage of protein-coding genes. The genetic distance within and between genera is calculated to confirm the taxonomic status of M. proscarabaeus. The phylogenetic relationships among 15 available meloid taxa are inferred by the maximum likelihood (ML) method based on 13 mitochondrial PCGs. The ML trees resulting from nucleotide and amino acid datasets recover both the monophyly of Meloe and Epicauta and the polyphyly comprising Hycleus and Mylabris. This study provides the first description of a mitochondrial genome belonging to the genus Meloe. The mitochondrial genome sequence and its characteristics are expected to be conducive to future studies on taxonomy, systematics, and molecular phylogenetics of the family Meloidae.