Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the complete plastid genomes and nuclear sequences reveal Daphne(Thymelaeaceae)to be non-monophyletic as current circumscription

The diverse members of the genus Daphne are prized for their fragrant flowers.Despite being promising ornamental plants in many countries,genetic information of Daphne is scarce.In this study,the plastomes of four species and one variety of Daphne were sequenced and analyzed.The plastomes were typical and contained a pair of inverted repeat(IR)regions that separated the large single-copy(LSC)region from the small single-copy(SSC)region.With a length ranging from 132,869 bp(D.genkwa)to 174,773 bp(D.championii),106 to 141 genes were predicted.Comparative plastome analysis of the newly sequenced plastomes with four publicly available Daphne plastomes identified an expansion of the IRs,sequence variations,and mutational hotspots.Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the genus Daphne in its current circumscription is polyphyletic.Daphne genkwa was nested within the genus Wikstroemia,while D.championii was well resolved as sister to Edgeworthia.These findings concurred with results from our study that used nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequence data.The conflicts on the molecular placement of D.championii and D.genkwa and the present taxonomic classification in Daphne suggest that a new intergeneric classification system of Daphneae warrants consideration.

Cockroach as the Earliest Eusocial Animal

A completely preserved cockroach Socialaperlucida gen. et sp. nov. （Blattida： Socialidae faro. nov.） is described from the Mesozoic （Albian Early Cretaceous） amber of Archingeay in France. It is categorized within the new family Socialidae, originating from the Mesozoic cockroach family Liberiblattinidae, and representing the sister group to the most basal known eutermite families. Numerous direct and indirect morphological evidence （such as a unique narrow body and pronotum with reduced coloration, legs without carination and with numerous sensillar pitts （forelegs） as adaptations to life in nests analogical to the living termitophillous species; enlarged head, long palps for communication, a general venation modified in a direction towards termites （subcosta and radial vein [R] approximated, R branches approximated, simplified, cross-veins reduced）, and possibly also the development of the breaking forewing sutura for detaching wings after marriage flight）, suggest its eusocial mode of life. Thus, the first eusociality originated within cockroaches, prior to giving birth to termites; termites and Cryptocercus are not directly related. The group of eusocial cockroaches makes termite morphotaxon polyphyletic, but also in this case, the erection of a new order for mastotermites （including Cratomastotermitidae） and/or the inclusion of eusocial, morphological cockroaches within termites appears counterproductive, thus an example of such a general exception to the taxonomical procedure is provided.