Complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean endemic firefly, Luciola unmunsana (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

In this study, we announce the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the Korean endemic firefly, Luciola unmunsana Doi, 1931. The full-length circular genome was 15,858 bp, with 77.94% A/T content. It contained the typical set of 37 metazoan genes: 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, as well as an A + T-rich region. The gene arrangement of the species is identical to that of the ancestral arrangement found in the majority of insects. The maximum-likelihood tree, built using all PCGs and two rRNAs via randomized accelerated maximum likelihood (RAxML) showed that L. unmunsana was grouped as a sister to L. curtithorax with the highest nodal support. However, another Luciola species clustered with the Aquatica species such that the genus Luciola was a non-monophyletic group. Therefore, more sampling is required to clarify the phylogeny of Luciola.