The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Pest Beetle Latheticus oryzae: Assembly, Annotation, and Phylogenetic...

Latheticus oryzae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a significant pest of stored grains, yet its phylogenetic position and mitogenome characteristics have remained poorly explored. Here, we present the first complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of L. oryzae (GenBank accession No. PX331584.1). The complete mitogenome is a circular molecule of 15,798 bp encoding 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and a control region, with a high A + T content of 71.08%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs robustly resolved the evolutionary position of L. oryzae, placing it as a sister group to Tribolium species within the tribe Tenebrionini. This clarifies its phylogenetic affinities and suggests a close evolutionary relationship and possibly shared adaptive strategies with the model pest genus Tribolium. Expression profiling revealed significant developmental and tissue-specific differences in PCG transcription, with heightened energy metabolism gene expression in larval stages and fat body, potentially reflecting genetic adaptations for growth and survival in nutrient-rich environments. These findings provide foundational insights into the molecular evolution and ecological adaptation of L. oryzae, facilitating future studies on pest evolution and mitogenome-driven management strategies.