ITS2 sequences are used extensively in molecular taxonomy and population genetics of arthropods and other animals yet little is known about the molecular evolution of ITS2. We studied the secondary structure of ITS2 in species from each of the six main lineages of hard ticks (family Ixodidae). The ITS2 of these ticks varied in length from 679 bp in Ixodes scapularis to 1547 bp in Aponomma concolor. Nucleotide content varied also: the ITS2 of ticks from the Prostriata lineage (Ixodes spp.) had 46-49% GC whereas ITS2 sequences of ticks from the Metastriata lineage (all other hard ticks) had 61-62% GC. Despite variation in nucleotide sequence, the secondary structure of the ITS2 of all of these ticks apparently has five domains. Stems 1, 3, 4 and 5 of this secondary structure were obvious in all of the species studied. However, stem 2 was not always obvious despite

Insect orders have been defined and stable for decades, with few notable exceptions (e.g., Blattodea and Psocoptera). One of the few remaining questions of order-level monophyly is that of Mecoptera in respect to the phylogenetic placement of Siphonaptera (fleas). We used a large set of transcriptomic nucleotide sequence data representing 56 species and more than 3,000 single-copy genes to resolve the evolutionary history of Antliophora, including fleas (Siphonaptera), scorpionflies and relatives (Mecoptera), and true flies (Diptera). We find that fleas and mecopterans together are the sister group of flies. However, our data and/or analyses are unable to distinguish whether fleas are sister to a monophyletic Mecoptera, or whether they arose from within extant mecopteran families, rendering Mecoptera paraphyletic. We did not detect parameter bias in our dataset after applying a broad range of detection methods. Counter to a previous hypothesis that placed fleas within Mecoptera as the sister group to wingless boreids (snow fleas), we found a potential sister group relationship between fleas and the enigmatic family Nannochoristidae. Although we lack conclusive evidence, it seems possible that fleas represent the most-species rich group of modern mecopterans and that their parasitic lifestyle and morphological adaptations have simply made them unrecognizable in respect to their order-level classification.

Wild abalone (Family Haliotidae) populations have been severely affected by commercial fishing, poaching, anthropogenic pollution, environment and climate changes. These issues have stimulated an increase in aquaculture production; however production growth has been slow due to a lack of genetic knowledge and resources. We have sequenced a draft genome for the commercially important temperate Australian ‘greenlip’ abalone (Haliotis laevigata, Donovan 1808) and generated 11 tissue transcriptomes from a female adult abalone. Phylogenetic analysis of the greenlip abalone with reference to the Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) indicates that these abalone species diverged approximately 71 million years ago. This study presents an in-depth analysis into the features of reproductive dysfunction, where we provide the putative biochemical messenger components (neuropeptides) that may regulate reproduction including gonad maturation and spawning. Indeed, we isolate the egg-laying hormone neuropeptide and under trial conditions induce spawning at 80% efficiency. Altogether, we provide a solid platform for further studies aimed at stimulating advances in abalone aquaculture production. The H. laevigata genome and resources are made available to the public on the abalone ‘omics website, http://abalonedb.org.