Characterization of the mitochondrial genome of Spodoptera exempta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from South Africa

The African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta, is an episodic migratory crop pest with an expanding distribution worldwide. This is the first report of the circular mitochondrial genome of S. exempta, with a length of 15,457 bp and an A + T content of 81.7%. It encoded a common set of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes, and contained a putative control region of 379 bp (94.7% in A + T proportion). The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree based on the complete mitogenome demonstrated that five species belonging to the Spodoptera genus formed one clade, in which S. exempta was the most isolated branch, followed by Spodoptera exigua. This data will contribute for the identification and phylogenetic analyses of S. exempta, providing useful information for its comprehensive control.