Structural features and phylogenetic implications of four new mitogenomes of Centrotinae (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Abstract To explore the variation and phylogenetic utility of mitogenomes among lineages of the diverse hemipteran superfamily Membracoidea, we sequenced four new mitogenomes of four treehopper species of the subfamily Centrotinae (Membracidae): Hypsauchenia hardwichii, Leptocentrus albolineatus, Maurya qinlingensis, and Tricentrus brunneus. The mitogenomes are 15,508 to 16,467 bp in size, and comprise the typical set of 37 mitochondrial genes and a large non-coding region (AT-rich region). Gene organization, nucleotide composition and codon usage of protein-coding genes (PCGs) are similar to those of most other sequenced Membracidae mitogenomes. All PCGs start with a typical ATN or TTG and end with TAA/G or the incomplete stop codon (a single T). All transfer RNA genes can be folded into typical clover-leaf secondary structures, except for trnS1. The location, length and AT content of the rrnS and rrnL genes are highly conserved in the Membracidae mitogenomes. In contrast, the AT-rich control region is highly variable in length and in numbers of tandem repeats present. Phylogenetic analyses based on the nucleotide and amino acid sequence data of 13 PCGs from 59 species of Membracoidea and four outgroups (Cercopoidea and Cicadoidea species) recovered Membracoidea as monophyletic with strong support, and Cicadellidae as paraphyletic with respect to Aetalionidae + Membracidae, in agreement with previous analyses. Relationships among membracoid subfamilies were also in general agreement with results from prior studies. The monophyly of Centrotinae is strongly supported, with relationships among tribes recovered as ((Centrotini+ (Tricentrini + Antialcidini)) + ((Leptobelini + Hypsauchenini) + Leptocentrini).