# Complete mitogenomes of two species of Cephenemyia and Pharyngomyia picta, and a comparison with other Oestrinae

## TL;DR

This study sequenced and compared the complete mitochondrial genomes of three bot fly species, revealing insights into their genetic structure and evolutionary relationships.

## Contribution

The first complete mitogenome sequences for Cephenemyia auribarbis, C. ulrichii, and Pharyngomyia picta are reported and compared with other Oestridae species.

## Key findings

- All three mitogenomes have a conserved gene content and structure typical of Oestridae, with high A+T content.
- Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Cephenemyia and its close relationship with Pharyngomyia, Oestrus, and Rhinoestrus.
- The D-loop region showed the highest sequence variability, useful for evolutionary studies.

## Abstract

This study reports for the first time the complete sequencing of the mitogenome of three Oestridae species: Cephenemyia auribarbis, C. ulrichii, and Pharyngomyia picta (Diptera: Oestridae). These three mitogenomes were assembled and annotated from specimens collected in southern and northern Spain (C. auribarbis and P. picta, respectively) and in Russia (C. ulrichii). They were then compared with the mitogenomes of 18 other Oestridae species available in GenBank. All three analyzed mitogenomes exhibited a conserved gene content and structure comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and a control region, with a high A + T content characteristic of the Oestridae. Intraspecific variability in length and sequence was detected in C. ulrichii and P. picta. Comparative analyses revealed conserved start/stop codons and consistent PCGs, tRNA, and rRNA gene organization. The D-loop region had the highest sequence variability. The phylogenetic analyses of 24 complete mitogenomes confirmed the monophyly of the genus Cephenemyia, with Pharyngomyia as its closest relative. Together, these genera formed a well-supported clade with Oestrus and Rhinoestrus. These results served to reinforce previously postulated phylogenetic hypotheses and underscored the utility of mitogenomic data in resolving the evolutionary relationships within the Oestridae. The mitogenomes described in this study offer significant molecular resources for future research into the taxonomy, phylogeny, and molecular evolution of bot flies.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00436-025-08623-9.