The complete mitochondrial genomes of two erythroneurine leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Erythroneurini) with assessment of the phylogenetic status and relationships of tribes of Typhlocybinae

Potential Distribution of Tribe Erythroneurini in China Based on the R-Optimized MaxEnt Model, with Implications for Management

This study examines the distribution dynamics of the tribe Erythroneurini, a group of economically significant leafhoppers in China that pose threats to crops through sap feeding and virus transmission, while also serving as valuable ecological indicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. Through a systematic evaluation of 12 species distribution models (SDMs), we ultimately selected the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model for predicting species distributions. The R-optimized MaxEnt model incorporated 11 environmental variables and 218 occurrence records to assess habitat suitability under historical, current, and future climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5). The model was configured with LQP features and a default regularization multiplier value of 1. Results reveal that temperature (BIO6, BIO2, BIO4) and precipitation (BIO12) are the primary drivers of habitat suitability, with tropical and subtropical regions identified as the most favorable. Future projections indicate a complex pattern of habitat contraction and expansion, with a notable northward shift toward higher latitudes under climate change. These findings highlight the profound impact of climate change on Erythroneurini distribution, underscoring the need for proactive management. Implementing long-term monitoring and targeted control in vulnerable regions mitigates ecological and agricultural risks, supporting sustainable pest management and fostering the integration of ecological conservation with agricultural development.

Characterizing the complete mitogenome of Odontothrips phaseoli (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and its mitochondrial phylogeny

Described originally from Heilongjiang, China, Odontothrips phaseoli is a potential pest of threatening bean plant in northern China. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. phaseoli was sequenced and assembled, with a total length of 15,540 bp. Within this genome, 37 genes have been identified: 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two putative control regions. Most PCGs terminate with TAA, while four genes (atp8, nad1, nad2 and nad4) use an incomplete 'T' and nad6 employs TAG as the stop codon. Compared to the mitogenome of the ancestral insect, O. phaseoli displays significant gene rearrangement. However, it retains three conserved gene blocks in common with its related species, Megalurothrips usitatus, both of which belong to the Megalurothrips genus-group. The phylogenetic tree, constructed based on the entire mitogenome dataset of all thrips species available in NCBI, shows that the two species cluster closely together. This alignment might underscore the close link between gene arrangements and the phylogeny relationships.

Two new species of Erythroneurini (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from southern China based on morphology and complete mitogenomes

Erythroneurine leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Erythroneurini) are utilized to resolve the relationship between the four erythroneurine leafhopper (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Erythroneurini): Arboridia (Arboridia) rongchangensis sp. nov., Thaia (Thaia) jiulongensis sp. nov., Mitjaevia bifurcata Luo, Song & Song, 2021 and Mitjaevia diana Luo, Song & Song, 2021, the two new species are described and illustrated. The mitochondrial gene sequences of these four species were determined to update the mitochondrial genome database of Erythroneurini. The mitochondrial genomes of four species shared high parallelism in nucleotide composition, base composition and gene order, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and an AT control region, which was consistent with majority of species in Cicadellidae; all genes revealed common trait of a positive AT skew and negative GC skew. The mitogenomes of four species were ultra-conservative in structure, and which isanalogous to that of others in size and A + T content. Phylogenetic trees based on the mitogenome data of these species and another 24 species were built employing the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The results indicated that the four species belong to the tribe Erythroneurini, M. diana is the sister-group relationship of M. protuberanta + M. bifurcata. The two species Arboridia (Arboridia) rongchangensis sp. nov. and Thaia (Thaia) jiulongensis sp. nov. also have a relatively close genetic relationship with the genus Mitjaevia.

The extraordinary rearrangement of mitochondrial genome of the wheat pest, Aptinothrips stylifer and the mitochondrial phylogeny of Thripidae (Thysanoptera)

The mitochondrial gene order in Thysanoptera is notably distinct and highly rearranged, with each species exhibiting its own unique arrangement. To elucidate the relationship between gene rearrangements and phylogeny, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the wheat pest, Aptinothrips stylifer, was sequenced and assembled, spanning a total length of 16,033 bp. Compared with the ancestral arthropod mitogenome, significant rearrangement differences were evident in A. stylifer, whereas the gene order between A. stylifer and Anaphothrips obscurus was similar. Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed based on all 13 protein-coding gene sequences using Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood methods, both yielding similar topological structures. Notably, A. stylifer was robustly clustered with A. obscurus, affirming its classification within Anaphothrips genus group. This exemplifies the potential correlation between gene rearrangements and phylogeny in the Thripidae family. Additionally, the mitogenome of A. stylifer exhibited several atypical features, including: (1) Three putative control regions (CRs) in close proximity, with CR2 and CR3 displaying partial similarity, and CR1 differing in base composition; (2) Two transfer RNAs (tRNAs), trnS1 and trnV, lacking the DHU arm; (3) Two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes inverted and positioned distant from each other; (4) Negative AT and GC skew (AT skew = -0.001, GC skew = -0.077); (5) One transposition (nad6), one inverse transposition (trnQ), four inversions (trnF, trnH, trnC, and gene block nad1-trnL1-rrnL-trnV-rrnS), and four tandem duplication random loss events; and (6) Two protein-coding genes, nad2 and atp8, terminated with an incomplete stop codon "T".

Phylogenetic Analysis of Two New Mitochondrial Genomes of Singapora shinshana and Seriana bacilla from the Karst Region of Southwest China

Leafhoppers have been identified as a serious threat to different plants. To explore the characteristics of mitogenomes and reveal the phylogenetic positions of two species in the Typhlocybinae, complete mitogenomes of Singapora shinshana and Seriana bacilla were sequenced and annotated for the first time with lengths of 15,402 bp and 15,383 bp, respectively. The two mitogenomes contained 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA genes and 2 rRNA genes. The genome content, gene order, nucleotide composition, codon usage and amino acid composition are similar to those of other typical mitogenomes of Typhlocybinae. All 13 PCGs started with ATN codons, except for atp8 (TTA) and nad5 (TTG). All tRNAs were folded into a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for tRNA-Ser1 and tRNA-Val. Moreover, phylogenetic trees were constructed and analyzed based on all the PCGs from 42 mitogenomes using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. The results supported that eleven subfamilies are all monophyletic groups, S. shinshana and S. bacilla are members of Erythroneurini, but S. shinshana and the genus Empoascanara have a very close relationship with ((((Empoascanara sipra+ Empoascanara wengangensis) + Empoascanara dwalata) + Empoascanara gracilis) + S. shinshana), and S. bacilla is closely related to the genus Mitjaevia ((Mitjaevia dworakowskae + Mitjaevia shibingensis) + S. bacilla). These results provide valuable information for future study of evolutionary relationships in Typhlocybinae.

Description of the whole mitochondrial genome of Bhatia longiradiata (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae: Drabescini) and phylogenetic relationship

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial genomes are extremely conserved in genetic processes and valuable molecular indications for phylogenetic and evolutionary examination, but the mitochondrial genome of Bhatia has not yet been reported.

OBJECTIVE

The target of this writing was to clarify the structural module of the mitochondrial genes of Bhatia longiradiata, verify the monophyletic of Drabescini, and explore the phylogenetic relationship between Drabescini with other leafhoppers.

METHODS

We performed sequencing and explanatory note of the mitochondrion of Bhatia longiradiata. The phylogeny relation was created by ML and Bayesian approaches using three dissimilar datasets (PCG12, PCG12rRNA, and AA), which were constructed to discuss the phylogenetic status of Bhatia longiradiata.

RESULTS

To report the architectural feature of the chondriosome of Bhatia longiradiata is a seal double-stranded annular molecule with 16,122 bp measurement and cover typically 37 genes. Several tandem repetitive units were observed in an AT enrichment area. The analysis showed that the branching relationships among the six trees were generally consistent, and each of the subfamilies was individually clustered into a monophyletic group within Cicadellidae. Bhatia longiradiata and other members of the Drabescini were aggregated into a clade that was situated within the Deltocephalinae.

CONCLUSION

The mitochondrial genome of Bhatia longiradiata covers 37 typical genes and a control region, which covers six tandem repeats. All species of Drabescini procedure a clade within Deltocephalinae. Drabescini and Scaphoideini form a branch and show a sister relationship with strong support. Therefore, we support the relegation of Selenocephalinae to a clan within Deltocephalinae.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Kusala populi (Song, Li & Xiong, 2011) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from Karst area, Southwest China

In this study, we sequenced and reported the complete mitochondrial genomes of Kusala populi for the first time. The complete mitochondrial genome was registered in GenBank with accession number NC_064377 as the first complete mitogenome of the genus Kusala. The circular mitochondrial genome length is 15,402 bp, with nucleotide composition A (41.8%), C (11.4%), G (9.2%), T (37.6%), A + T (79.4%), and C + G (20.6%), comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a D-loop region. All protein-coding genes were encoded by the H-strand, except for 4 genes (nad5, nad4, nad4L, nad1). 8 tRNA genes (tRNA-Gln, tRNA-Cys, tRNA-Tyr, tRNA-Phe, tRNA-His, tRNA-Pro, tRNA-Leu, tRNA-Val) and 2 rRNA genes (16S, 12S) were encoded in the L-strand. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the newly sequenced species had a close relationship with Mitjaevia, another widespread Old-World genus of Erythroneurini.

Morphometric analysis of forewing venation does not consistently differentiate the leafhopper tribes Typhlocybini and Zyginellini

Tribes of the leafhopper subfamily Typhlocybinae have traditionally been defined based on differences in hind wing venation, but the forewing venation also differs among some tribes. Here we used geometric morphometric analysis to determine whether previously recognized tribes can be distinguished based on the configuration of forewing veins. Focusing on the apical area of the male right forewing, 76 semi-landmarks in six curves corresponding to individual wing veins were measured for representatives of four previously recognized tribes and the data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), canonical variable analysis (CVA), and UPGMA clustering analysis. The study showed that differences in the apical area of the forewing mainly occur in RP, MP′, and MP″ + CuA′. PCA, CVA, and cluster analysis showed three distinct clusters representing tribes Empoascini, Erythroneurini, and Typhlocybini (sensu lato) but failed to distinguish Typhlocybini (sensu stricto) from Zyginellini, which has been considered as either separate tribe or a synonym of Typhlocybini by recent authors. The results show that the forewing venation differs among tribes of Typhlocybinae, but also agree with recent molecular phylogenetic analyses, indicating that Zyginellini is derived from within Typhlocybini.

Characterization of the morphology and complete mitochondrial genomes of Eupteryx minusula and Eupteryx gracilirama (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) from Karst area, Southwest China

Background

The hemipteran insect family Cicadellidae (leafhoppers) includes >2,600 valid genera and >22,000 valid species worldwide, including >2,000 species in China. Typhlocybinae, second largest subfamilies of Cicadellidae, is widely distributed in the six major zoogeographic regions of the world, including >4,000 species worldwide and >1,000 species in China. Previously, morphological analysis are often effective to the way of taxonomy, but it did not combine with molecular biology. Therefore, morphology and mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of two leafhopper species, Eupteryx (Eupteryx) minusculaLindberg, 1929 and Eupteryx (Stacla) graciliramaHou, Zhang & Huang, 2016 were studied and analyzed. This study analyzed the morphological and molecular characteristics of the two leafhoppers, and showed whether the results of the two identifications were consistent.

Methods

Based on the method of comparison, mitogenomes and morphology were analyzed to prove the relationship between the two leafhoppers.

Results

Although two focal species are classified in two different subgenera of the same genus, they still share many morphological features, such as the moderately produced crown fore margin; the milky yellow apical part of scutellum; the pronotum, basal triangles of scutellum, and forewing are dark with several colorless patches on the surface; the light yellow face, without any spots or stripes, and so on. The circular mitogenomes are 16,944 bp long in E. minuscula (GenBank: MN910279) and 17,173 bp long in E. gracilirama (GenBank: MT594485). All of the protein-coding genes are starting with ATN, except for some in mitogenome, which has a single T or TAN as a stop codon. All tRNAs have the typical cloverleaf-shaped structure except for trnS1 (AGN) (E. minuscula) which has a reduced DHU arm. Moreover, these two mitogenomes have trnR with an unpaired base in the acceptor stem. The phylogenetic relationships between E. minuscula and E. gracilirama in respect to related lineages were reconstructed using Maximum likelihood and Maximum parsimony analyses.

Discussion

The result showed that the tribe Typhlocybini is a sister to the tribes Erythroneurini and Empoascini, and five genera, Bolanusoides, Typhlocyba, Eupteryx, Zyginella and Limassolla are forming a single clade. E. minuscula and E. gracilirama are clustered together, supporting the monophyly of the genus Eupteryx. The above conclusions are consistent with the traditional classification of the subfamily.

Structural Features and Phylogenetic Implications of 11 New Mitogenomes of Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

To explore the characteristics of mitogenomes and discuss the phylogenetic relationships and molecular evolution of the six tribes within Typhlocybinae, 11 complete mitogenomes are newly sequenced and comparatively analyzed. In all of these complete mitogenomes, the number and order of the genes are highly conserved in overall organization. The PCGs initiate with ATN/TTG/GTG and terminate with TAA/TAG/T. Almost all tRNAs are folded into the typical clover-leaf secondary structure. The control region is always variable in length and in numbers of multiple tandem repeat units. The atp8 and nad2 exhibits the highest evolution rate among all the PCGs. Phylogenetic analyses based on whole mitogenome sequences, with three different datasets, using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, indicate the monophyly of Typhlocybinae and its inner tribes, respectively, except for Typhlocybini and Zyginellini that are paraphyletic. Finally, we confirm that Erythroneurini is a subtribe of Dikraneurini.