Mitochondrial genome of a flashwing demoiselle, Vestalis melania from the Philippine Archipelago

Abstract

This study determined the first complete mitochondrial genome of a demoiselle, Vestalis melania (Odonata, Zygoptera, Calopterygidae) using long-range PCR and a primer walking approach. This mitogenome is 16,685 bp long and contains the entire set of 37 genes and an A + T-rich control region typically found in insects. Presently, this mitogenome is the largest mitogenome of all available odonates, mainly because of its long A + T-rich region (2036 bp). The gene arrangement of the V. melania mitogenome is identical to that of other known odonates. The inter-genic spacer s5 shared by the Anisoptera is absent in V. melania, which supports the view that the absence of the s5 spacer is a synapomorphy of the Zygoptera.

• Calopterygidae
• damselfly
• inter-genic spacer
• Odonata
• synapomorphy
• Zygoptera

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Hilario Cahilog and Arnulito Viojan for collecting damselflies, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines for research permits (DENR-GP No. RO8 2010-02).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article. This study was supported by research grants from the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC 97-2621-B-029-001-MY3 & 99-2621-M-029-001 to CPL; NSC 97-2621-B-001-003-MY3 to SMC) and Biodiversity Research Center of Academia Sinica (BRC PI grant to SMC).