Complete mitochondrial genome of the lappet moth, Kunugia undans (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae): genomic comparisons among macroheteroceran superfamilies

Abstract

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) characteristics of the monotypic Lasiocampoidea are largely unknown, because only limited number of mitogenomes is available from this superfamily. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitogenome of the lappet moth, Kunugia undans (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) and compared it to those of Lasiocampoidea and macroheteroceran superfamilies (59 species in six superfamilies). The 15,570-bp K. undans genome had one additional trnR that was located between trnA and trnN loci and this feature was unique in Macroheterocera, including Lasiocampoidea. Considering that the two trnR copies are located in tandem with proper secondary structures and identical anticodons, a gene duplication event might be responsible for the presence of the two tRNAs. Nearly all macroheteroceran species, excluding Lasiocampoidea, have a spacer sequence (1–34 bp) at the trnS 2 and ND1 junction, but most lasiocampid species, including K. undans, have an overlap at the trnS 2 and ND1 junction, which represents a different genomic feature in Lasiocampoidea. Nevertheless, a TTAGTAT motif, which is typically detected in Macroheterocera at the trnS 2 and ND1 junction, was also detected in all Lasiocampoidea. In summary, the general mitogenome characteristics of Lasiocampoidea did not differ greatly from the remaining macroheteroceran superfamilies, but it did exhibit some unique features.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the wild silkmoth, Saturnia boisduvalii (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

“…; Kim et al . ) was detected. In fact, to the best of our knowledge no bombycoid species has been reported to have any extra tRNA.…”

“…The S. boisduvalii mitogenome contains 37 genes, composed of 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes, as in other animals (Boore 1999). No extra tRNA, which is occasionally found in other Lepidoptera (e.g., Kim et al 2006;Hao et al 2012;Kim et al 2017) was detected. In fact, to the best of our knowledge no bombycoid species has been reported to have any extra tRNA.…”

Phylogenetic relationships among Bombycidae s.l. (Lepidoptera) based on analyses of complete mitochondrial genomes

“…In comparison, our study recovered the same topology as Kim et al . () in all 24 analyses, although sometimes with only moderate support in the ML analyses. The inclusion of more taxonomic groups in future analyses may enable us to draw more robust conclusions regarding the family‐level relationships within Bombycoidea.…”

“…More recently, Kim et al . () recovered the relationship Saturniidae + (Sphingidae + Bombycidae) with nodal support of 65% BP, using mt‐genomes. In comparison, our study recovered the same topology as Kim et al .…”

Complete mitochondrial genome of Pterodecta felderi (Lepidoptera: Callidulidae)

“…Mesophleps albilinella belonging to Gelechiidae (KU366707; Park et al 2016) was utilized as the outgroup. GenBank accession numbers are as follows: Pterodecta felderi, MT370823 (This study); Spodoptera litura, JQ647918 (Wan et al 2013); Saturnia jonasii, MF346379 (Kim et al 2018); Kunugia undans, KX822016 (Kim et al 2017); Glyphodes quadrimaculalis, KF234079 (Park et al 2015); Plodia interpunctella, KP729178 (Liu et al 2016); Parnassius bremeri, FJ871125 (Kim et al 2009); Potanthus flavus, KJ629167 (Kim et al 2014); Lacosoma valva, KJ508050 (Timmermans et al 2014); and Epicopeia hainesii, MK033610 (Yang et al 2019).…”