Characterization of Seventeen Complete Mitochondrial Genomes: Structural Features and Phylogenetic Implications of the Lepidopteran Insects

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The moth is a large group with high species richness in Lepidoptera, and many species of them play important roles in human’s life. However, there remains limited understanding for the phylogenetic relationship of moths due to absent taxon samples and genetic sequences. In this study, we described seventeen new species involving five major lineages of moths and discussed the phylogeny based on the mitochondrial genome data. The results revealed a special mitogenome characteristic in Sphragifera sigillata that possessed two control regions located between l-rRNA and trnV and between s-rRNA and trnM, respectively. Besides, the phylogeny presented a different relationship from previous studies. These findings will broaden our knowledge of moths and make contributions to genetics, biology, and ecology. ABSTRACT: Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) are widely distributed in the world, but high-level phylogeny in Lepidoptera remains uncertain. More mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) data can help to conduct comprehensive analysis and construct a robust phylogenetic tree. Here, we sequenced and annotated 17 complete moth mitogenomes and made comparative analysis with other moths. The gene order of trnM-trnI-trnQ in 17 moths was different from trnI-trnQ-trnM of ancestral insects. The number, type, and order of genes were consistent with reported moths. The length of newly sequenced complete mitogenomes ranged from 14,231 bp of Rhagastis albomarginatus to 15,756 bp of Numenes albofascia. These moth mitogenomes were typically with high A+T contents varied from 76.0% to 81.7% and exhibited negative GC skews. Among 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), some unusual initiations and terminations were found in part of newly sequenced moth mitogenomes. Three conserved gene-overlapping regions and one conserved intergenic region were detected among 17 mitogenomes. The phylogenetic relationship of major superfamilies in Macroheterocera was as follows: (Bombycoidea + Lasiocampoidea) + ((Drepanoidea + Geometroidea) + Noctuoidea)), which was different from previous studies. Moreover, the topology of Noctuoidea as (Notodontidae + (Erebidae + Noctuidae)) was supported by high Bayesian posterior probabilities (BPP = 1.0) and bootstrapping values (BSV = 100). This study greatly enriched the mitogenome database of moth and strengthened the high-level phylogenetic relationships of Lepidoptera.