A complete mitogenome of Trachys auricollis is reported, and a mitogenome-based phylogenetic tree of Elateriformia with all protein-coding genes (PCGs), rRNAs, and tRNAs is presented for the first time. The complete mitochondrial genome of T. auricollis is 16,429 bp in size and contains 13 PCGs, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and an A + T-rich region. The A + T content of the entire genome is approximately 71.1%, and the AT skew and GC skew are 0.10 and −0.20, respectively. According to the the nonsynonymous substitution rate to synonymous substitution rates (Ka/Ks) of all PCGs, the highest and lowest evolutionary rates were observed for atp8 and cox1, respectively, which is a common finding among animals. The start codons of all PCGs are the typical ATN. Ten PCGs have complete stop codons, but three have incomplete stop codons with T or TA. As calculated based on the relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) values, UUA(L) is the codon with the highest frequency. Except for trnS1, all 22 tRNA genes exhibit typical cloverleaf structures. The A + T-rich region of T. auricollis is located between rrnS and the trnI-trnG-trnM gene cluster, with six 72-bp tandem repeats. Both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian (BI) trees suggest that Buprestoidea is close to Byrrhoidea and that Buprestoidea and Byrrhoidea are sister groups of Elateroidea, but the position of Psephenidae is undetermined. The inclusion of tRNAs might help to resolve the phylogeny of Coleoptera.

Dominant species significantly affect interspecific relationships, community structure, and ecosystem function. In the field, dominant species are often identified by their high importance values. Selective foraging on dominant species is a common phenomenon in ecology. Our hypothesis is that dominant plant groups with high importance values are more susceptible to leaf‐mining insects at the regional level. Here, we used the Saihanwula National Nature Reserve as a case study to examine the presence–absence patterns of leaf‐mining insects on different plants in a forest‐grassland ecotone in Northeast China. We identified the following patterns: (1) After phylogenetic correction, plants with high importance values are more likely to host leafminers at the species, genus, or family level. (2) Other factors including phylogenetic isolation, life form, water ecotype, and phytogeographical type of plants have different influences on the relationship between plant dominance and leafminer presence. In summary, the importance value is a valid predictor of the presence of consumers, even when we consider the effects of plant phylogeny and other plant attributes. Dominant plant groups are large and susceptible targets of leaf‐mining insects. The consistent leaf‐mining distribution pattern across different countries, vegetation types, and plant taxa can be explained by the “species‐area relationship” or the “plant apparency hypothesis.”

The complete circular mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Rhadinosa nigrocyanea was 17,965 bp in length, which contained 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) and 1 non-coding AT-rich region with the length of 3002 bp. All of the 22 tRNA genes displayed a typical clover-leaf structure, with the exception of tRNA Ser (TCT). 12 PCGs were initiated by ATN codons, except for ND1 started with TTG. Only six PCGs used the typical stop codon ‘TAA’ and ‘TGA’, while seven PCGs terminated with incomplete stop codons (TA or T). Phylogenetic analysis showed that R. nigrocyanea grouped with Cassidinae species, sister to Clytrinae + Cryptocephalinae.

Argopistes tsekooni is a leaf-mining pest on Oleaceae plants in China. The complete mitochondrial genome of A. tsekooni was sequenced and annotated. It had a total length of 16,552 bp, including 13 PCGs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 tRNAs, and a 2020 bp long non-coding AT-rich region. With a total length of 11,140 bp, all 13 PCGs started with ATN, 9 PCGs terminated with TAA, 3 PCGs terminated with TAG, except that COX3 terminated with an incomplete stop codon T. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that A. tsekooni was closely grouped with seven other Galerucinae species, which did not contradict the previous morphological and molecular classification. ARTICLE HISTORY

The taxonomic classification of Dactylispa, a large genus of leaf-mining beetles, is problematic because it is currently based on morphology alone. Here, the first eight mitochondrial genomes of Dactylispa species, which were used to construct the first molecular phylogenies of this genus, are reported. The lengths of the eight mitogenomes range from 17,189 bp to 20,363 bp. All of the mitochondrial genomes include 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and 1 A + T-rich region. According to the nonsynonymous/synonymous mutation ratio (Ka/Ks) of all PCGs, the highest and the lowest evolutionary rates were found for atp8 and cox1, respectively, which is a common phenomenon among animals. According to relative synonymous codon usage, UUA(L) has the highest frequency. With two Gonophorini species as the outgroup, mitogenome-based phylogenetic trees of the eight Dactylispa species were constructed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods based on the PCGs, tRNAs, and rRNAs. Two DNA-based phylogenomic inferences and one protein-based phylogenomic inference support the delimitation of the subgenera Dactylispa s. str. and Platypriella as proposed in the system of Chen et al. (1986). However, the subgenus Triplispa is not recovered as monophyletic. The placement of Triplispa species requires further verification and testing with more species. We also found that both adult body shape and host plant relationship might explain the subgeneric relationships among Dactylispa beetles to a certain degree.

Prionispa champaka is a leaf-mining species which feeds on Pollia spp. and widely distributes in southern China. The complete mitogenomic sequence of P. champaka (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) was obtained and annotated, with a length of 20,494 bp. It was longer than those of other Chrysomelid species (not including Bruchinae) because of its much longer non-coding sequences. Gene arrangement and content of P. champaka was identical to the most common type in insects, and it was also biased toward AT (accounting for 78.4%). Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial PCGs indicated that P. champaka was closely clustered with 5 other Cassidinae species, supporting the traditional morphological classification within Cassidinae.

Podagricomela nigricollis is a citrus pest that distributes in South China. Currently, there was no complete mitochondrial genome of Podagricomela species available in GenBank. Here, we reported the complete circular mitogenome of P. nigricollis. It had a total length of 16,756 bp, including 13 proteincoding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one A þ T-rich region. Among the 13 PCGs, only four (NAD5, NAD4, NAD4l, NAD1) located on the L-strand, whereas the other nine (NAD2, COX1, COX2, ATP8, ATP6, COX3, NAD3, NAD6, COB) located on the H-strand. Phylogenetic analysis using nucleotide sequences of the 13 PCGs indicated that P. nigricollis were clustered with six Galerucinae species, which was consistent with previous morphological classification.

The complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of beetles in the tribe Scolytoplatypodini (genus Scolytoplatypus) were sequenced and annotated. These included Scolytoplatypus raja (15,324 bp), Scolytoplatypus sinensis (15,394 bp), Scolytoplatypus skyliuae (15,167 bp), and Scolytoplatypus wugongshanensis (15,267 bp). The four mitogenomes contained 37 typical genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The gene orientation and arrangement of the four mitogenomes were similar to other Coleoptera mitogenomes. PCGs mostly started with ATN and terminated with TAA. The Ka/Ks ratio of 13 PCGs in the four species revealed that cox1 had the slowest evolutionary rate and atp8 and nad6 had a higher evolutionary rate. All tRNAs had typical cloverleaf secondary structures, but trnS1 lacked dihydrouridine arm. Partial tRNAs lost the discriminator nucleotide. The trnY did not possess the discriminator nucleotide and also lost three bases, showing a special amino-acyl arm. Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods were conducted for phylogenetic analyses using 13 PCGs. Scolytoplatypodini was clustered with Hylurgini and Hylastini, and the monophyly of Scolytoplatypodini was supported. The four newly sequenced mitogenomes increase understanding of the evolutionary relationships of Scolytoplatypodini and other Scolytinae species.