As one of the four primary evolutionary groups within myriapods, centipedes (Chilopoda) comprise approximately 3150 valid species. Recent molecular studies have begun to elucidate the phylogeny and time to divergence in Chilopoda; yet, identifying scutigeromorphs at the species level remains a notoriously challenging task. In this study, we obtained seven new complete mitogenomes of Thereuopoda clunifera (Wood, 1862) to investigate the phylogeny and divergence times of Chilopoda. Both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses recovered the relationship of (Scutigeromorpha + (Scolopendromorpha + (Lithobiomorpha + Geophilomorpha))). For Scutigeromorpha, seven newly sequenced mitogenomes of T. clunifera were divided into four distinct clades. Divergence time estimates suggest that the basal split of Chilopoda occurred during the Middle Ordovician period, with the origins of Scolopendromorpha, Lithobiomorpha, and Geophilomorpha dating to the Devonian period. Factors such as warm climates, coevolution between predator and prey, and the rifting of the Hainan Island may have driven the diversification of Scutigeromorpha. Based on genetic distance, the delimitation of molecular species, phylogenetic relationships, and divergence time analyses, we identified three cryptic species that existed within T. clunifera. This exceptionally high degree of hidden diversity can be ascribed to the morphological stasis that has occurred since the Paleozoic era and taxonomic impediment.

Bristletails (Microcoryphia) represent a relatively understudied group of class Insecta. These wingless hexapods, which retain numerous plesiomorphic structures, remain less well understood compared to most other insect lineages. Through detailed morphological examination of specimens collected from southern China, we describe six new species (Pedetontus (Verhoeffilis) elegans sp. n. from Zhejiang; P. (V.) hezhouensis sp. n., P. (V.) jinxiuensis sp. n., and P. (V.) nanningensis sp. n. from Guangxi; and P. (V.) shenzhenensis sp. n. and P. (V.) xanthospilus sp. n. from Guangdong) of subgenus Verhoeffilis Paclt, 1972. This subgenus is distinguished from other members of the Petrobiinae by several diagnostic features: paired ocelli shoe-shaped (fusiform-shaped) and submedian; two pairs of retractile vesicles on abdominal segments II–V; parameres restricted to coxite IX; penis opening small and apical; male genitalia not exceeding coxite IX; and ovipositor of primary type. The new species can be distinguished from known species and each other by the morphology of the compound eyes, maxilla, labial palps, legs, and genitalia; here, we provide detailed illustrations, tables, and descriptions. Furthermore, we sequence the COX1 gene to construct a phylogenetic tree of Microcoryphia. This contribution increases the total number of reported Pedetontus species in China to seventeen.

Bristletails (Microcoryphia) represent a relatively understudied group of class Insecta. These wingless hexapods, which retain numerous plesiomorphic structures, remain less well understood compared to most other insect lineages. Through detailed morphological examination of specimens collected from southern China, we describe six new species (Pedetontus (Verhoeffilis) elegans sp. n. from Zhejiang, P. (V.) hezhouensis sp. n., P. (V.) jinxiuensis sp. n. and P. (V.)nanningensissp. n. from Guangxi, P. (V.)shenzhenensis sp. n. and P. (V.)xanthospilus sp. n. form Guangdong) of subgenus Verhoeffilis Paclt, 1972, this subgenus distinguished from other members of the Petrobiinae by several diagnostic features: paired ocelli shoe-shaped (fusiform-shaped) and submedian; two pairs of retractile vesicles on abdominal segments II–V; parameres restricted to coxite IX; penis opening small and apical; male genitalia not exceeding coxite IX; ovipositor of primary type. The new species can be distinguished from known species and each other by the morphology of the compound eyes, maxilla, labial palps, legs, and genitalia, here, we provide detailed illustrations, tables, and descriptions. Furthermore, we sequenced the COX1 gene to construct a phylogenetic tree of Microcoryphia. This contribution increases the total number of reported Pedetontus species in China to seventeen.