Hufang Zhang

Dimorphopterus japonicus is a kind of pest which seriously harms sorghum and millet. In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial whole genome of D. japonicus (Hidaka, 1959), and characterized and analyzed the mitogenome. The D. japonicus genome length is 15,473 bp, and it exhibits a typical high A + T content (77.6%). The mitogenomic structure of D. japonicus is highly conservative and there are no gene rearrangements. The evolutionary rates of the PCGs are in the order of atp8 > nad3 > nad6 > nad2 > nad5 > atp6 > nad4 > nad4L > cox2 > nad1 > cytb > cox3 > cox1. By using the Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods, we inferred the phylogenetic relationships within Lygaeoidea and estimated their divergence times based on concatenated mitogenome genes. The stable clades of (Oxycarenidae + Piesmatidae), (Malcidae + Colobathristidae), (Meschiidae + Berytidae), and (Blissidae+(Cymidae + Ninidae)) were consistently recovered in all analyses. Estimated divergence times revealed that the divergence time of the Lygaeoidea was 99.4 Ma (95% HPD: 83.4-124.8 Ma), and most lygaeoid families diverged during the early Cretaceous to late Paleogene. Berytidae is the latest differentiation in the lygaeoid families, and the genus Dimorphopterus was differentiated in 45.9 Ma (95% HPD: 39.8–47.7 Ma). This study is of great significance for reconstructing the phylogeny of Lygaeoidea and providing insights into its evolutionary history.

Pentatomidae, the most diverse family of Pentatomoidea, is found worldwide. Currently, the phylogenetic relationships among Pentatomidae tribes remain unstable, and subfamily divergence has not been estimated. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genomes of two species of Lelia, and studied the phylogenetic relationships among Pentatominae tribes. We also selected three available fossil as the calibration points in the family, and preliminarily discussed the divergence time of Pentatomidae. Trees of Pentatomidae were reconstructed using the Bayesian inference method. Divergence times of Pentatominae were estimated based on the nucleotide sequences of protein-coding genes with a relaxed clock log-normal model in BEASTv.1.8.2. The results showed that the gene arrangements, nucleotide composition, and codon preferences were highly conserved in Lelia. Further, a phylogenetic analysis recovered Eysarcorini, Strachiini, Phyllocephalini, and Menidini as monophyletic with strong support, however, the monophyly of Antestiini, Nezarini, Carpocorini, Pentatomini and Cappaeini were rejected. Moreover, Pentatominae diverged from Pentatomidae soon after the origin of the Cretaceous Period, at approximately 110.38 Ma. This study enriches the mitochondrial genome database of Pentatomidae and provides a reference for further phylogenetic studies, and provides a more accurate estimate of divergence time.

Sternorrhyncha, one of the four major suborders of Hemiptera, is a phytophagous taxon inclusive of nearly 18 000 described species. The phylogenetic relationships within the taxon and the earliest‐branching lineage of its infraorders remain incompletely understood. This study attempted to illuminate the phylogenetic relationships within Sternorrhyncha through the use of maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony analyses, employing ultraconserved element (UCE) data from 39 genomic and 62 transcriptomic datasets and thereby representing most families within the taxon. The probe set Hemiptera 2.7Kv1 was used to recover a total of 2731 UCE loci: from 547 to 1699 (with an average of 1084) across all genomic datasets and from 108 to 849 (with an average of 329) across all transcriptomic datasets. All three types of phylogenetic analyses employed in this study produced robust statistical support for Sternorrhyncha being a monophyletic group. The different methods of phylogenetic analysis produced inconsistent descriptions of topological structure at the infraorder level: while maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses produced strong statistical evidence (100%) indicating the clade Psylloidea + Aleyrodoidea to be a sister of the clade Aphidoidea (Aphidomorpha) + Coccoidea (Coccomorpha), the maximum parsimony analysis failed to recover a similar result. Our results also provide detail on the phylogenetic relationships within each infraorder. This study presents the first use of UCE data to investigate the phylogeny of Sternorrhyncha. It also shows the viability of amalgamating genomic and transcriptomic data in studies of phylogenetic relationships, potentially highlighting a resource‐efficient approach for future inquiries into diverse taxa through the integration of varied data sources.

We here describe the external morphology and complete mitochondrial genome characteristics of Mecidea indica Dallas, 1851, and clarify the evolutionary rate and divergence time. The M. indica mitochondrial genome length is 15,670 bp, and it exhibits a typical high A+T-skew (76.31%). The sequence shows strong synteny with the original gene arrangement of Drosophila yakuba Burla, 1954 without rearrangement. The M. indica mitochondrial genome characteristics were analyzed, and phylogenetic trees of Pentatomidae were reconstructed using Bayesian methods based on different datasets of the mitochondrial genome datasets. Phylogenetic analysis shows that M. indica belongs to Pentaotominae and form a sister-group with Anaxilaus musgravei Gross, 1976, and Asopinae is highly supported as monophyletic. Molecular clock analysis estimates a divergence time of Pentatomidae of 122.75 Mya (95% HPD: 98.76–145.43 Mya), within the Mesozoic Cretaceous; the divergence time of M. indica and A. musgravii was no later than 50.50 Mya (95% HPD: 37.20–64.80 Mya). In addition, the divergence time of Asopinae was 62.32 Mya (95% HPD: 47.08–78.23 Mya), which was in the Paleogene of the Cenozoic era. This study is of great significance for reconstructing the phylogeny of Pentatomidae and providing insights into its evolutionary history.

Species of genus Aelia are important pests of wheat crops in arid areas. In this study, the mitogenomes of A. sibirica and A. fieberi were sequenced using high-throughput sequencing technology. The mitochondrial genome characteristics of both Aelia species were compared and analyzed, and the phylogenetic relationships of Pentatomidae were constructed based on protein-coding genes. In addition, the taxonomic status of the genus Aelia was confirmed. The results showed that the total length of the mitogenome sequences of A. sibirica and A. fieberi were 15,372 bp and 15,450 bp, respectively, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region. By comparing the mitochondrial genome structure, base composition, codon usage, RNA secondary structure, and other characteristics, it was found that the mitochondrial genome characteristics of the two species were similar. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Phyllocephalinae and Asopinae both formed monophyletic groups, but the relationship between Podopinae and Pentatominae was not resolved. Within the subfamily Pentatominae, (Nezarini + Antestiini), (Aeliini + Carpocorini), and (Strachiini + Pentatoma) formed stable clades. Aelia sibirica and A. fieberi were found to be a stable sibling pair, and the clade was closely related to Dolycoris baccarum.

The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, is an invasive pest species found all over the world. It is native to Mexico and Central America, but is now present in more than 50 countries and regions, seriously threatening the economic viability of the agricultural and forestry industry. In the current study, the global potential distribution of P. marginatus was predicted under current and future climatic conditions using MaxEnt. The results of the model assessment indicated that the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC-AUC) was 0.949, while the TSS value was 0.820. The results also showed that the three variables with the greatest impact on the model were min temperature of coldest month (bio6), precipitation of wettest month (bio13), and precipitation of coldest quarter (bio19), with corresponding contributions of 46.8%, 31.1%, and 13.1%, respectively. The results indicated that the highly suitable areas were mainly located in tropical and subtropical regions, including South America, southern North America, Central America, Central Africa, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Under four climate scenarios in the 2050s and 2070s, the area of suitability will change very little. Moreover, the results showed that the area of suitable areas in 2070s increased under all four climate scenarios compared to the current climate. In contrast, the area of suitable habitat increases from the current to the 2050s under the SSP370 and SSP585 climate scenarios. The current study could provide a reference framework for the future control and management of papaya mealybug and other invasive species.

Hygia Uhler, 1861 is the largest genus in the bug family Coreidae. Even though many species of this genus are economically important, the complete mitogenomes of Hygia species have not yet been reported. Therefore, in the present study, the complete mitogenomes of three Hygia species, H. lativentris (Motschulsky, 1866), H. bidentata Ren, 1987, and H. opaca (Uhler, 1860), are sequenced and characterized, and submitted in a phylogenetic analysis of the Coreidae. The results show that mitogenomes of the three species are highly conserved, typically with 37 genes plus its control region. The lengths are 16,313 bp, 17,023 bp, and 17,022 bp, respectively. Most protein-coding genes (PCGs) in all species start with the standard codon ATN and terminate with one of three stop codons: TAA, TAG, or T. The tRNAs secondary structures of all species have a typical clover structure, except for the trnS1 (AGC) in H. bidentata, which lacks dihydrouridine (DHU) arm that forms a simple loop. Variation in the length of the control region led to differences in mitochondrial genome sizes. The maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian-inference (BI) phylogenetic analyses strongly supported the monophyly of Hygia and its position within Coreidae, and the relationships are ((H. bidentata + (H. opaca + (H. lativentris + Hygia sp.))). The results provide further understanding for future phylogenetic studies of Coreidae.

Pseudaucalaspis pentagona and P. prunicola are notorious pests and commonly feed on various ornamental plants and fruit trees worldwide. The two species share many host-plant species, and are similar in morphological characteristics and life cycle, making it difficult to distinguish to distinguish between them. In this study, morphological characteristics, molecular evidence, and ecological niches were used to define these species. We performed PCA analysis on 22 morphological characteristics that allowed the delineation of the species. We then sequenced the COI gene of both species revealing five populations of P. pentagona and one population of P. prunicola, and the higher support rate could distinguish the two species. We also identified the potential distribution area of the two species based on the MaxEnt niche model, which showed that the degree of niche overlap was high, but that they occupied different niches. Ultimately, we combined three lines of evidence to show that the two species are distinctly different. This study supports species definition using combined morphology, genetics, and ecology and provides a theoretical basis for the effective control of these two pests in the future.

Scale insects (Coccoidea) are morphologically specialized members of the order Hemiptera, with 56 families recognized to date. However, the phylogenetic relationships within and among families are poorly resolved. In this study, to further characterize the phylogenetic relationships among scale insects, an ultraconserved element (UCE) probe set was designed specifically for Coccoidea based on three low-coverage whole genome sequences along with three publicly available genomes. An in silico test including eight additional genomes was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the probe set. Most scale insect lineages were recovered by the phylogenetic analysis. This study recovered the monophyly of neococcoids. The newly developed UCE probe set has the potential to reshape and improve our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within and among families of scale insects at the genome level.

The Palaearctic species of the genus Megalotomus Fieber, 1860 are reviewed. The diagnoses and distributions of Megalotomus species are updated. Megalotomus angulus (Hsiao, 1965) comb. nov. is transferred from Alydus Fabricius, 1803 and re-described based on type material from China. Megalotomus obtusus Ghauri, 1972 syn. nov. is proposed as a new junior synonym of M. angulus (Hsiao, 1965) comb. nov. based on examination of type material from Pakistan. Photographs of adults and illustrations of male external genitalia are provided. A review of their distribution and a key for their identification are provided.