Search

Abstract: We entirely sequenced two new hymenopteran mitochondrial genomes (Cephus cinctus and Orussus occidentalis), and a substantial portion of another three hymenopterans (Schlettererius cinctipes, Venturia canescens, and Enicospilus). We analyze them together with nine others reported in the literature. We establish that the rate of genetic divergence is two to three times higher among some Hymenoptera when compared with others, making this a group with both long and short phylogenetic branches. We then assessed the ability of a range of phylogenetic approaches to recover seven uncontroversial relationships, when lineages show markedly different rates of molecular evolution. This range encompassed maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis of (i) amino acid data, (ii) nucleotide data, and (iii) nucleotide data excluding third codon positions. Unpartitioned analyses were compared with partitioned analyses, with the data partitioned by codon position (ribosomal genes were placed in a separate partition). These analyses indicated that partitioned, Bayesian analysis of nucleotide data, excluding 3rd codon positions, recovered more of the uncontroversial relationships than any other approach. These results suggest that the analysis of complete mitochondrial genome sequences holds promise for the resolution of hymenopteran superfamily relationships. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The putatively ancient subterranean crustacean family Parabathynellidae has been poorly studied, in part because of the problem of obtaining material from difficult to access subterranean habitats in which they live. Further, the systematicsofthe grouphas been complicated by their generally simplified morphology and isolated descriptions of new taxa in the absence of any phylogenetic framework. Using material from comprehensive field surveys and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear 18S sequence data, plus morphology, a new genus is recognised, Arkaroolabathynella Abrams & King, gen. nov., from underground waters in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Arkaroolabathynella contains four genetically and morphologically distinct species, described as A. bispinosa Abrams & King, sp. nov., A. remkoi Abrams & King, sp. nov., A. robusta Abrams & King, sp. nov. and A. spriggi Abrams & King, sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis also revealed a previously unknown diversity of parabathynellids from southern Australia, and a complex set of relationships with the eastern (New South Wales) and south-western (Western Australia) continental faunas. Additionally, this study showed that deep molecular divergences in parabathynellids are not always reflected in morphological divergence. A checklist to Australian parabathynellid genera and species is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome of Abispa ephippium (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea: Vespidae: Eumeninae) and most of the mitochondrial genome of Polistes humilis synoecus (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea: Vespidae: Polistinae). The arrangement of genes differed between the two genomes and also differed slightly from that inferred to be ancestral for the Hymenoptera. The genome organization for both vespids is different from that of all other mitochondrial genomes previously reported. A number of tRNA gene rearrangements were identified that represent potential synapomorphies for a subset of the Vespidae. Analysis of all available hymenopteran mitochondrial genome sequences recovered an uncontroversial phylogeny, one consistent with analyses of other types of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]