Large-scale comparative analysis of blowfly mitogenomes, with an emphasis on Calliphorinae (Diptera: Calliphoridae), provides evolutionary insights into mitochondrial DNA structure, gene rearrangements, and inter- and intra-subfamilial relationships

Blowflies (Calliphoridae) represent a species-rich group, comprising 9 % of calyptrate diversity and 1.3 % of all described Diptera. The blowfly subfamily Calliphorinae, is known for its species of medical, veterinary and forensic importance, which has led to a skew toward these species in publicly available mitochondrial genome data. This skew leaves a significant proportion of this subfamily unrepresented and has resulted in poorly understood inter- and intra-subfamilial relationships, due to restricted taxon sampling. To address this, we assembled mitogenomes for 63 Calliphorinae species across 14 genera and a further 15 species from all remaining calliphorid subfamilies, representing the most comprehensive mitogenomic dataset for blowflies to date. Comparative analysis of mitochondrial DNA revealed structural and functional variations in gene order, base composition, codon usage, evolutionary rates and gene rearrangements across blowfly lineages, including a major rearrangement in Calliphora varifrons. Phylogenetic analysis of 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes strongly supported the monophyly of Calliphoridae and its subfamilies. Clades Chrysomyinae (Calliphorinae+Luciliinae) and Rhiniinae+Bengaliinae are well-supported, with former subfamilies Melanomyinae and Toxotarsinae nested within Calliphorinae. Ameniinae was paraphyletic in most analyses, with variable placement of Eurychaeta palpalis. Genera Calliphora and Onesia are non-monophyletic, and the synonymisation of Calliphora with Cynomya, Cyanus and Cynomyiomima is suggested.