Phylogeny of the Harnischia generic complex (Diptera, Chironomidae) inferred from twenty whole mitogenomes

TL;DR

This study analyzes mitochondrial genomes to clarify evolutionary relationships in a group of non-biting midges.

Contribution

The study provides the first comprehensive mitogenomic analysis of the Harnischia complex with new genome sequences and phylogenetic insights.

Findings

Twenty Chironomidae mitogenomes were compared, including two new Paracladopelma, one Parachironomus, and one Harnischia.

Phylogenetic analyses show Robackia as a basal group within the Harnischia complex.

Most mitochondrial protein-coding genes show purifying selection, with ND6, ATP8, and ND5 showing higher evolutionary flexibility.

Abstract

This study presents the first comprehensive mitochondrial genome analysis of three Chironomidae genera, including sequencing, assembling, and annotating mitogenomes from two Paracladopelma species, one Parachironomus species and one Harnischia species. These newly characterized mitogenomes were subjected to comparative genomic analysis alongside twenty previously published Chironomidae mitogenomes, enabling robust phylogenetic reconstruction within the Harnischia generic complex. The Ka/Ks ratio analysis reveals that most protein-coding genes (PCGs) have undergone purifying selection, with ND6, ATP8, and ND5 exhibiting higher ω values and thus greater evolutionary flexibility. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood methods demonstrate Robackia as a basal group. This study expands the available mitogenomic database and provides a robust foundation for future phylogenetic analyses of the Harnischia generic complex.

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