Abstract
Background
Moths constitute the largest group within Lepidoptera and play a crucial role in natural ecosystems. However, the current high-level classification system of Lepidopteran insects necessitates systematic research supported by comprehensive data.
Results
In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genomes of 80 lepidopteran moth species, spanning 68 genera across 13 families. Through a synthesis of published data, we conducted a comparative analysis encompassing 211 moth species from 12 superfamilies. Our analysis unveiled a mitochondrial genome length range of 15,027 to 17,049 bp, with an AT content varying between 77.02% and 83.52%. While gene composition and arrangement were largely conserved, we observed tRNA rearrangement (trnS1-trnE inversion) in Zygaenidae and Gelechiidae families. Phylogenetic analyses highlighted the monophyly of 9 superfamilies, with exceptions for Tineoidea, Pyraloidea, and Drepanoidea. Divergence time estimations suggest an origin of the 12 Lepidopteran superfamilies in the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 122.27 million years ago (95% CI: 102.43-153.23 Mya). Furthermore, we propose reclassifications to refine the taxonomic status of certain families. This includes reclassifying Gracillariidae and Thyrididae as independent from the Tineoidea and Pyraloidea superfamilies, respectively, and relocating the family Epicopeiidae to the Geometroidea superfamily from Drepanoidea.
Conclusion
We performed a comprehensive comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes from 211 moth species. Using various tree-building methods and datasets, we reconstructed the higher-level phylogeny of moths across 12 superfamilies of Lepidoptera and further proposed taxonomic revisions for several groups. Our study significantly enriches the molecular dataset for moth systematics and offers new insights into the evolutionary history and phylogeny of Lepidoptera.