The complete mitochondrial genomes and phylogenetic analysis of two Nycteribiidae bat flies (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea)

Abstract

We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of two bat fly species within the Nycteribiidae (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea) – Dipseliopoda setosa (Cyclopodiinae) and Basilia ansifera (Nycteribiinae). Both mitogenomes were complete and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAs. Relative to the inferred ancestral gene order of dipteran mitochondrial genomes, no rearrangements were identified in either species. There were large differences in size between the two genomes, with D. setosa having a larger genome (19,164 bp) than B. ansifera (16,964 bp); both species had larger genomes than two previously published Streblidae bat fly species (e.g., Paradyschiria parvula and Paratrichobius longicrus ). The increased genome sizes were due to expansions in the control region and the non-coding region downstream of the light-strand origin of replication. Additional differences between the two mitogenomes included a significantly longer cox3 gene in B. ansifera and a longer nad1 gene in D. setosa . Interestingly, both genomes also had the lowest GC content ( D. setosa – 15.9%; B. ansifera – 17.0%) of any available Hippoboscoidea mitochondrial genome (18.8–23.9%). These mitogenomes represent the first sequences from species within the bat fly family Nycteribiidae. The sequence data here will provide a foundation for continued studies of genome evolution more generally within obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites, and specifically for the bat flies as vectors of significant ‘bat-associated’ viruses and microorganisms.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Phthiridium szechuanum (Nycteribiidae, Diptera)

“… 2013 ), Basilia ansifera MZ826150 (Porter et al. 2022 ), Dipseliopoda setosa MZ826151 (Porter et al. 2022 ), Paradyschiria parvula MK896865 (Trevisan et al.…”

“… 2022 ), Dipseliopoda setosa MZ826151 (Porter et al. 2022 ), Paradyschiria parvula MK896865 (Trevisan et al. 2019 ), Paratrichobius longicrus MK896866 (Trevisan et al.…”

“…The family Nycteribiidae is a class of obligate bat ectoparasites under the order Diptera and Hippoboscoidea, which together with the family Streblidae are known as bat flies (Porter et al. 2022 ). Members of the family Nycteribiidae have no wings, flat chests, small or missing eyes, and look like spiders.…”

The complete mitochondrial genome of Nycteribia parvula Speiser, 1901 (Diptera, Nycteribiidae)

“…The sequences were used as follows: Glossina austeni MZ826152 (Porter et al. 2022 ), Glossina brevipalpis MZ826153 (Porter et al. 2022 ), Lipoptena sp MT679542 (Wang et al.…”

“…The Nycteribia parvula belongs to the genus Nycteribia of the subfamily Nycteribiinae of the family Nycteribiidae (Porter et al. 2022 ). Currently, studies on this species have focused on morphological description, life history, host distribution, and disease transmission, with less research on the mitochondrial genome.…”