Comparative mitogenome research revealed the phylogenetics and evolution of the superfamily Tenebrionoidea (Coleoptera: Polyphage).

Despite the worldwide distribution and rich diversity of the superfamily Tenebrionoidea, the knowledge of the mitochondrial genomes (mtgenome) characteristics of the superfamily is still very limited, and its phylogenetics and evolution remain unresolved. In the present study, we newly sequenced mtgenomes from 19 species belonging to Tenebrionoidea, and a total of 90 mitochondrial genomes from 16 families of Tenebrionoidea were used for phylogenetic analysis. There exist 37 genes for all 82 species of complete mtgenomes of 16 families investigated, and their characteristics are identical as reported mtgenomes of other Tenebrionoids. The Ka/Ks analysis suggests that all 13 PCGs have undergone a strong purifying selection. The phylogenetic analysis suggests the monophyly of Mordellidae, Meloidae, Oedemeridae, Pyrochroidae, Salpingidae, Scraptiidae, Lagriidae, and Tenebrionidae, and the Mordellidae is close to the Ripiphoridae. The "Tenebrionidae clade" and "Meloidae clade" are monophyletic, and both of them are sister groups. In the "Meloidae clade," Meloidae is close to Anthicidae. In the "Tenebrionidae clade," the family Lagriidae and Tenebrionidae are sister groups. The divergence time analysis suggests that Tenebrionoidea originated in the late Jurassic, Meloidae Mordellidae, Lagriidae, and Tenebrionidae in the Cretaceous, Oedemeridae in Paleogene. The work lays a base for the study of mtgenome, phylogenetics, and evolution of the superfamily Tenebrionoidea.

Phylogeny of Rhynchium and Its Related Genera (Hymenoptera: Eumeninae) Based on Universal Single-Copy Orthologs and Ultraconserved Elements.

The subfamily Eumeninae is a large group of fierce predatory insects that prey mainly on the larvae of Lepidoptera pests. Because of the highly similar morphologies of the genus Rhynchium and its related genera in the subfamily, including Rhynchium Spinola, Allorhynchium van der Vecht, Anterhynchium de Saussure, Pararrhynchium de Saussure, it is essential to delineate their relationships. A previous phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genomes suggested the inconsistent relationships of these genera under traditional classification based on morphological characters. In this study, we first used single-copy orthologs [USCO] and ultraconserved elements [UCE] extracted from 10 newly sequenced low-coverage whole genomes to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of the above genera. The newly sequenced genomes are 152.99 Mb to 211.49 Mb in size with high completeness (BUSCO complete: 91.5-95.6%) and G + C content (36.31-38.76%). Based on extracted 5811 USCOs and 2312 UCEs, the phylogenetic relationships of Rhynchium and its related genera were: ((Allorhynchium + Lissodynerus) + (Pararrhynchium + (Anterhynchium + (Dirhynchium + Rhynchium)))), which was consistent with the mitochondrial genome results. The results supported the genus Rhynchium as monophyletic, whereas Anterhynchium was recovered as paraphyletic, with Anterhynchium (Dirhynchium) as a sister to Rhynchium and hence deserving generic status; In addition, in the genus Pararrhynchium, P. septemfasciatus feanus and P. venkataramani were separated, not clustered on a branch, just as P. septemfasciatus feanus was not together with P. striatum based on mitochondrial genomes. Since Lissodynerus septemfasciatus, the type species of the genus Lissodynerus, was transferred to Pararrhynchium, it is considered that the genus Lissodynerus should be restituted as a valid genus, not a synonym of Pararrhynchium.

Two New Mitogenomes of Bibionidae and Their Comparison within the Infraorder Bibionomorpha (Diptera).

Despite the worldwide distribution and rich diversity of the infraorder Bibionomorpha in Diptera, the characteristics of mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are still little-known, and the phylogenetics and evolution of the infraorder remains controversial. In the present study, we report complete and annotated mitogenome sequences of Penthetria simplioipes and Plecia hardyi representing Bibionidae. This is the first report of the complete mitogenomes for the superfamily Bibionoidea. There are 37 genes in each of the complete mitogenomes of all 20 studied species from eight families of four superfamilies within infraorder Bibionomorpha. The Ka/Ks analysis suggests that all 13 PCGs have undergone purifying selection. The gene rearrangement events exist in some families (Keroplatidae, Sciaridae, and Cecidomyiidae) but not in Mycetophilidae in Sciaroidea and also in Scatopsoidea, Anisopodoidea, and Bibionoidea, which suggests that these rearrangement events are derived in the late period in the evolution of the Bibionomorpha. The phylogenetic analysis suggests the phylogenetic relationships of Scatopsoidea + (Anisopodoidea + (Bibionoidea + Sciaroidea)) in Bibionomorpha. The divergence time analysis suggests that Bibionomorpha originated in the Triassic, Scatopsoidea and Anisopodoidea in the late Triassic, Bibionoidea in the Jurassic, and Sciaroidea in the Jurassic to the Cretaceous. The work lays a base for the study of mitogenomes in Bibionomorpha but further work and broader taxon sampling are necessary for a better understanding of the phylogenetics and evolution of the infraorder.

A taxonomic revision of the nominotypical subgenus Tiphia Fabricius, 1775(Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae: Tiphiinae) from China, with three new species and a key to the Chinese species.

In this study, twenty-one species of the nominotypical subgenus Tiphia Fabricius from China are described and illustrated in detail, including three new species and ten new records as follows: Tiphia (Tiphia) flavobrunnea sp. nov., T. (T.) longistria sp. nov., T. (T.) mediocarinata sp. nov., T. (T.) aurata Allen, 1975, T. (T.) borneana Cameron, 1907, T. (T.) dayi Krombein, 1982, T. (T.) dutti Allen, 1975, T. (T.) incisa Cameron, 1897, T. (T.) lawrencei Allen, 1975, T. (T.) pulchaukiae Allen, 1975, T. (T.) s-secunda Allen, 1975, T. (T.) toreuta Boni Bartalucci, 2010 and T. (T.) weismani Krombein, 1982. In addition, the females of four species are firstly described, namely T. (T.) chihpenchia Tsuneki, 1986a, T. (T.) cilicincta Allen & Jaynes, 1930, T. (T.) mongolica Tsuneki, 1986b, and T. (T.) wuyiana Chen & Yang, 2003. And the males of four following species are also firstly described: T. (T.) choui Chen & Yang, 1991, T. (T.) nervidirecta Allen & Jaynes, 1930, T. (T.) pigmentata Allen & Jaynes 1930, and T. (T.) taiwana Ishikawa, 1967. Based on our collections and relevant references, a key to the Chinese species of the subgenus Tiphia is firstly compiled.

Additions to the knowledge of the genus Parancistrocerus Bequaert, 1925 from China (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae).

In this paper, three new species, namely Parancistrocerus fragilitergus sp. n. from Guangxi (China), P. elatitergus sp. n. from Sichuan (China), and P. extentitergus sp. n. from Chongqing and Guizhou (China) are described and illustrated in detail. In addition, P. irritatus Giordani Soika, 1972, P. jaferpaloti Girish Kumar & Carpenter, 2016, and P. sulcatus Giordani Soika, 1994 are newly recorded from China. An updated key to the Chinese species of the genus Parancistrocerus is provided.

Official tenure and governance effectiveness of China's basic pension insurance system: An inverted U-shaped curve.

Objectives: Based on incentive theory of motivation, this paper aims to estimate China's basic pension insurance's annual efficiency and inter-period efficiency changes from 2015 to 2019 and further examine the relationship between official tenure and basic pension insurance governance performance. Methods: The DEA-BCC model was used to evaluate the operating efficiency of basic pension insurance in 31 provinces of China. And four panel Tobit models were constructed to examine the heterogeneous linkages between officials' tenure and governance efficiency in different regions of China. Results: The results showed that there was an inverted U-shaped relationship between the official tenure and the governance efficiency of basic pension insurance. The younger an official was in his current position, the more apparent the inverted U-shaped relationship between the tenure of an official and the governance efficiency of basic pension insurance. We also found that localized government officials showed better governance efficiency of basic pension insurance. However, as the term of office of officials increased, the governance efficiency of non-localized officials showed a steeper negative effect. Conclusion: This study firstly reveals a significant relationship between the characteristics of officials and the operation of China's basic pension insurance system, which is a complement to the study of China's basic pension systems.

A taxonomic revision of the subfamily Myzininae from China, with a key to the Chinese species (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae).

In this study, a total of 11 species belonging to four genera of Myzininae are recorded from China, among which a new species, namely Hylomesa punctata sp. nov. is described from Tibet and Yunnan, and four species are newly recorded. All the species are illustrated and a key to them is provided in this paper.

First Comprehensive Analysis of Both Mitochondrial Characteristics and Mitogenome-Based Phylogenetics in the Subfamily Eumeninae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

The subfamily Eumeninae plays a significant role in the biological control of agricultural pests. However, the characteristics of eumenine mitogenomes that are important molecular markers for phylogenetics are not clearly revealed. Here, 52 eumenine mitogenomes are newly sequenced and annotated, and the phylogenetic relationships of the subfamily are comprehensively analyzed based on 87 vespid mitogenomes. Through the comparative analysis of the 54 eumenine mitogenomes, the gene compositions of about one half of the 54 species match with ancestral insect mitogenome, and remaining others contain two trnM which are highly similar, with 51.86% (Eumenes tripunctatus) to 90.65% (Pseumenes nigripectus) sequence identities, which is unique among the reported mitogenomes of the family Vespidae. Moreover, the translocation trnL1 upstream of nad1 is a common rearrangement event in all eumenine mitogenomes. The results of phylogenetic analyses support the paraphyly of the subfamily Eumeninae and the tribe Odynerini, respectively, and the monophyly of the tribe Eumenini, and verify that the tribe Zethini is a valid subfamily Zethinae. In this study, the relationships between some genera such as Allorhynchium and Pararrhynchium or the taxonomic status of the subgenera such as Eremodynerus and Dirhynchium are found to be confusing and there should be further inquiry with more samples.

Mitochondrial composition of and diffusion limiting factors of three social wasp genera Polistes, Ropalidia, and parapolybia (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

BACKGROUND: Social wasps Polistes, Ropalidia, and Parapolybia, belonging to the subfamily Polistinae, have obviously different distribution patterns, yet the factors leading to this difference remain unknown. RESULTS: The 17 newly sequenced mitogenomes of Polistes, Ropalidia, and Parapolybia contain 37 genes, and there are obvious differences among the compositions of the three genera. The monophyly of the genus Polistes and a monophyletic Ropalidiini: (Ropalidia + Parapolybia) are concordant with previous morphological analysis of the subfamily Polistinae. Our inferred divergence time demonstrates Polistes (at around 69 Ma) was diverged earlier than Ropalidia and Parapolybia (at around 61 Ma). The rearrangement of both trnY and trnL1 are shared by all the Polistinae. In addition, the unique rearrangement of TDRL derived at 69 Ma is detected in Polistes, and Ropalidia contains a Reversal which may derive at 61 Ma. Hereafter, the possibility is elaborated that Polistes originated in Aisa and then dispersed from Africa to South America, and Polistes and Ropalidia spread from Southeast Asia to Australia. At last, continental drift and Quaternary Ice Ages are inferred to be two main limiting factors in the current distributions of the three genera. CONCLUSIONS: Obvious differences occur in the mitochondrial composition of Polistes, Ropalidia, and Parapolybia. According to the reconstructed time-calibrated framework, it is inquired that the continental drifts and the climate are mainly diffusion limiting factors of the three genera.

A revision of the genus Jucancistrocerus Blthgen, 1938 from China, with review of three related genera (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae).

In this paper, the genus Jucancistrocerus Blthgen 1938 from China is systematically reviewed, with the first description of the female of J. (Eremodynerus) chotanensis (Blthgen, 1942). Meanwhile, three related genera Eustenancistrocerus Blthgen, Stenancistrocerus de Saussure and Tachyancistrocerus Giordani Soika are briefly reviewed, of which Eustenancistrocerus and Tachyancistrocerus are newly recorded from China. A total of nine species of these four genera from China are illustrated as follows: J. (Eremodynerus) atrofasciatus (Morawitz, 1885), J. (E.) chotanensis (Blthgen, 1942), J. (J.) tachkensis, J. (J.) alashanicus Kurzenko, 1977, J. (J.) angustifrons (Kostylev, 1940), E. (Eustenancistrocerus) askhabadensis (Morawitz, 1885), E. (Parastenancistrocerus) amadanensis amadanensis (de Saussure, 1855), S. (Paratropancistrocerus) transcaspicus (Kostylev, 1934), and T. schmidti (Kokujev, 1912). In addition, a key to the above species is compiled.

First report of complete mitochondrial genome in the subfamily Alleculinae and mitochondrial genome-based phylogenetics in Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea).

Despite worldwide distribution and rich diversity, the knowledge of mitochondrial genome (mtgenome) characteristics within the family Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) is still very limited, and phylogenetics remain unresolved for the family. In this study, the mtgenomes for 12 species are newly sequenced and annotated. Three of the species represent the first report of complete mtgenomes from the subfamily Alleculinae. Comparative analysis of 36 tenebrionid mtgenomes finds that gene composition and order are the same as a theoretical ancestral insect mtgenome, and AT bias, length variation, and codon usage are consistent with other reported beetle mtgenomes. Some intergenic overlap and gap sequences may contain phylogenetically informative information, whereas neither the conserved nor repeat sequences in the control region do. The subfamilies Lagriinae, Pimeliinae, Stenochiinae, and Alleculinae are found to be monophyletic, and the subfamilies Diaperinae and Tenebrioninae polyphyletic in our study. Furthermore, Lagriinae is sister to the rest of the subfamilies. At the tribal level, the tribes Lagriini in the subfamily Lagrrinae; Strongyliini in Stenochiinae; Cteniopodini in Alleculinae; and Triboliini, Opatrini, and Amarygmini in Tenebrioninae are monophyletic; while Diaperini in Diaperinae, and Tenebrionini in Tenebrioninae are polyphyletic.

Two newly recorded genera Malayepipona Giordani Soika and Megaodynerus Gusenleitner, with eight new species from China (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae).

In this paper, the genera Malayepipona Giordani Soika and Megaodynerus Gusenleitner are newly recorded from China. Seven new species of Malayepipona and one new species of Megaodynerus are described and illustrated: namely Malayepipona brunnea Bai, Chen Li, sp. nov., M. flaviclypeata Bai, Chen Li, sp. nov., M. lamellata Bai, Chen Li, sp. nov., M. maculosa Bai, Chen Li, sp. nov., M. nigricans Bai, Chen Li, sp. nov., M. sparsipuncta Bai, Chen Li, sp. nov., M. triangula Bai, Chen Li, sp. nov. and Megaodynerus bimaculus Bai, Chen Li, sp. nov.. The species Malayepipona clypeata Nguyen Carpenter, 2013 is also newly recorded from China. A key to known species of Malayepipona is updated.

Three new species of the subgenus Jaynesia Allen, 1969 of the genus Tiphia Fabricius, 1775 (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae: Tiphiinae) from China, with a key to all known species.

In this study, three new species of the subgenus Jaynesia Allen from China are described and illustrated, namely T. hohehotensis sp. nov. from Inner Mongolia, T. displicata sp. nov. from Sichuan, and T. rotunda sp. nov. from Gansu. A key to all known species of Jaynesia is also provided.

First mtgenome sequences from three genera and phylogenetic relationships of the family Apidae based on mtgenome sequences (Hymenoptera: Apoidea).

In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genomes (mtgenome) of Thyreus decorus, Ceratina okinawana and Amegilla calceifera, which are the first time of mtgenome report also for the genera Thyreus, Ceratina and Amegilla in the family Apidae. They contain 15,237, 15,207, and 17,728 bp, with AT content of 84.97%, 79.30%, and 84.63%, respectively. Each mtgenome includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA (16S and 12S rRNA) and an AT-rich control region (CR). The phylogenetic relationships of 45 species in the family were constructed using Bayesian Inference based on concatenated nucleotide sequences of 13 PCGs. Our study suggests that the subfamily Apinae is a paraphyletic group, with the genus Eucera claded into the subfamily Xylocopinae and the genera Amegilla and Thyreus into the subfamily Nomadinae. In Apinae, the genera Melipona and Bombus are significantly sister group, and the genus Apis is the sister group with Melipona + Bombus.

A taxonomic revision of Allodynerus Blüthgen (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from China.

In this paper, six species of the genus Allodynerus Blüthgen from China are reviewed, including four new species and two known species, namely Allodynerus reduncus Zhang, Chen Li, sp. nov., Allodynerus bimaculus Zhang, Chen Li, sp. nov., Allodynerus diqingensis Zhang, Chen Li, sp. nov., Allodynerus asperipunctarus Zhang, Chen Li, sp. nov., Allodynerus delphinalis delphinalis (Giraud, 1866) and Allodynerus mandschuricus Blüthgen, 1953. These four new species are described and illustrated in detail, and the two known species are redescribed and illustrated. A key to all known species of Allodynerus worldwide is also provided.

Taxonomy of the genus Epsilon from China, with a new species and an updated key to the Oriental species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae).

A new species of potter wasps, Epsilon similimanasicum sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Zhejiang, China. The holotype specimen of Epsilon subfistulosum (Wickwar, 1908) was examined and based on the characters of the type specimen, it is transferred from the genus Epsilon de Saussure to the genus Pararrhynchium de Saussure, as Pararrhynchium subfistulosum comb. nov. In addition, an updated key to the Oriental species of Epsilon is provided.

A new species and new record of the genus Discoelius Latreille, 1809 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from China.

Discoelius brevilamellatus Wang, Chen Li, sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Tibet, China, and Discoelius turneri (Meade-Waldo, 1910) is newly recorded from China.

The complete mt genomes of Lutzia halifaxia, Lt. fuscanus and Culex pallidothorax (Diptera: Culicidae) and comparative analysis of 16 Culex and Lutzia mt genome sequences.

BACKGROUND: Despite the medical importance of the genus Culex, the mitochondrial genome (mt genome) characteristics of Culex spp. are not well understood. The phylogeny of the genus and particularly the generic status of the genus Lutzia and the subgenus Culiciomyia remain unclear. METHODS: The present study sequenced and analyzed the complete mt genomes of Lutzia halifaxia, Lutzia fuscanus and Cx. (Culiciomyia) pallidothorax and assessed the general characteristics and phylogenetics of all known 16 mt genome sequences for species in the genera Culex and Lutzia. RESULTS: The complete mt genomes of Lt. halifaxia, Lt. fuscanus and Cx. pallidothorax are 15,744, 15,803 and 15,578 bp long, respectively, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two tRNAs and a control region (CR). Length variations in the Culex and Lutzia mt genomes involved mainly the CR, and gene arrangements are the same as in other mosquitoes. We identified four types of repeat units in the CR sequences, and the poly-T stretch exists in all of these mt genomes. The repeat units of CR are conserved to different extent and provide information on their evolution. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the Coronator and Sitiens groups are each monophyletic, whereas the monophyletic status of the Pipiens Group was not supported; Cx. pallidothorax is more closely related to the Sitiens and Pipiens groups; and both phylogenetics analysis and repeat unit features in CR show that Lutzia is a characteristic monophyletic entity, which should be an independent genus. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review of the mt genome sequences and taxonomic discussion based on the mt genomes of Culex spp. and Lutzia spp. The research provides general information on the mt genome of these two genera, and the phylogenetic and taxonomic status of Lutzia and Culiciomyia.

The first divergence time estimation of the subfamily Stenogastrinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) based on mitochondrial phylogenomics.

In this study, the mitochondrial genomes of three Stenogastrinae species, Eustenogaster scitula, Liostenogaster nitidipennis and Parishnogaster mellyi were sequenced and annotated, and a total of 16 vespid mtgenomes are comparatively analyzed. Our results indicate that codon usage bias is mainly dominated by mutational pressure, and affected only slightly by natural selection. Selective pressure analysis of protein-coding genes (PCGs) shows that the highest evolutionary rate is present in NADH complex I, and the lowest in cox1. Compared with the reported mtgenomes of other Vespidae, in Stenogastrinae, trnH is shifted to a new position. Phylogenetic analyses are performed using Bayesian method and Maximum Parsimony. Phylogenetic analysis further confirms that the Stenogastrinae is the sister group of all remaining Vespidae. Divergence time of Stenogastrinae from other Vespidae is estimated at ~ 166 Mya. Our results also support that eusociality evolved twice in the family Vespidae.

Descriptions of eight new species of the genus Parancistrocerus Bequaert (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), with a key to the Oriental species.

Eight new species, namely Parancistrocerus latitergus sp. nov. (China), P. lamnulus sp. nov. (China), P. laticlypeus sp. nov. (Thailand), P. prominens sp. nov. (Thailand), P. guangxiensis sp. nov. (China), P. discarinatus sp. nov. (Thailand), P. abyssicavus sp. nov. (Thailand), and P. similiandrocles sp. nov. (China) are described and illustrated. Parancistrocerus samarensis (von Schulthess, 1934) and P. incorruptus incorruptus Giordani Soika, 1972, are newly recorded from China and Thailand, respectively. An updated key to the Oriental species of the genus Parancistrocerus is also given.