Complete mitochondrial genome of the yellow-legged Asian hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The yellow-legged Asian hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, which originated from Asia, has invaded several countries, including South Korea. In Korea, V. velutina nigrithorax predation on honeybees is one of the most serious factors threatening apiculture. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of V. velutina to better understand the mitogenomic characteristics of this species. The 16,475 bp mitogenome of V. velutina consists of a typical set of genes, with an arrangement identical to that of congeneric species. Vespa velutina possesses the shortest A + T-rich region (132 bp) among congeneric Vespa, and this is also the shortest in the superfamily Vespoidea. Phylogenetic analysis using the 13 protein-coding genes of Vespoidea species indicated that each family forms strongly supported monophyletic groups (Bayesian posterior probability =1; ML, 100%). Moreover, V. velutina and V. bicolor form strongly supported sister groups (Bayesian posterior probability =1; ML, 100%).