Short read sequencing assembly revealed the complete mitochondrial genome of Ischnura elegans Vander Linden, 1820 (Odonata: Zygoptera)

Damselflies of the genus Ischnura emerge as organisms with high potential in ecological, evolutionary and developmental research at the base of flying insects. Ischnura elegans and Ischnura hastata are for example one of the few odonate species where a complete life cycle over generations can be reared under laboratory conditions. We here report the complete mitochondrial genome of Ischnura elegans as a valuable genomic resource for future eco-evo-devo studies at the base of flying insects. The genome has a total length of 15,962 bp and displays all typical features of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) mitochondrial genomes in gene content and order as well as A + T content. Start and stop codons of all protein-coding genes are consistent. Most interestingly, we found four intergenic spacer regions and a long A + T rich (control) region of 1196 bp, which is almost double the size of the close relative Ischnura pumilio. We assume that the adequate insert size and iterative mapping may be more efficient in assembling this duplicated and repetitive region.