Insights on -like elements diversity in and (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae).

-like elements (MLEs) are class II transposons belonging to the family that have successfully invaded many insect genomes. In the current study, the availability of the Hessian fly, , genome has enabled us to perform in silico analysis of MLEs using a previously described element () belonging to the subfamily. Eighteen like elements were detected and clustered into three main groups: like, , and . Subsequently, in vitro analysis was carried out to investigate like elements in as well as in using primers designed from TIRs of previously identified MLEs. PCR amplifications were successful, and a total of 12 and 17 like elements were detected in and , respectively. Sequence analyses of like elements obtained in silico and in vitro have shown that and elements share low similarity with ranging from 50% to 55%, suggesting that different groups under the subfamily have invaded the genomes of and . These groups were likely inherited by vertical transmission, which subsequently underwent different evolutionary histories. This work describes new like elements in that are distinct from the previously discovered and provides the first evidence of MLEs belonging to the subfamily in .