Complete mitochondrial genome of Mioscirtus w. wagneri (Eversmann, 1859) (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) and phylogenetic analysis

Abstract

We employed second-generation sequencing technology to determine the complete mitochondrial genome of Mioscirtus w. wagneri (Eversmann, 1859), which is the first species reported in the genus Mioscirtus. The mitochondrial genome spans 15,632 base pairs and encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and an AT-rich control region (D-loop region). The nucleotide composition exhibits a strongly A+T bias (75.6%). Among the 13 PCGs, 27 codons exhibited higher usage frequencies, predominantly with A/U endings. All tRNA genes adopt the canonical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for tRNASer(AGN), which lacks the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm. Nucleotide diversity and evolutionary rate analyses across mitogenomes of Oedipodinae revealed pervasive purifying selection acting on all 13 PCGs (Ka/Ks < 1). Among these, ND2 exhibited the highest nucleotide diversity, whereas ND4L exhibited the lowest. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of all 13 PCGs, using both Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) frameworks, which produced an identical topology strongly supported M. w. wagneri as a monophyletic lineage within the subfamily Oedipodinae. This lineage formed a sister group relationship with species of the genus Celes and shared a most recent common ancestor with species of the genus Oedipoda, together constituting the tribe Oedipodini. This phylogenetic relationship is consistent with traditional morphology-based classifications. These findings expand the currently sparse mitogenomic resource for the subfamily Oedipodinae and provide a robust genetic foundation for future studies on the population genetics and evolutionary history of M. w. wagneri.