Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Macdunnoughia hybrida (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae)

Macdunnoughia hybrida is a polyphagous herbivorous moth within the family Noctuidae. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of M. hybrida. This mitogenome was 15,382 bp long and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and two ribosomal RNA unit genes (rRNAs). Except for cox1 started with CGA, all other PCGs started with the standard ATN codons. Most of the PCGs terminated with the stop codon TAA, whereas cox1, cox2 and nad4 end with the incomplete codon T−−. The whole mitogenome exhibited heavy AT nucleotide bias (80.7%). Gene order was conserved and identical to most other previously sequenced Noctuidae. Phylogenetic analysis positioned M. hybrida in a well-supported clade with Diachrysia nadeja and three Ctenoplusia species. The relationships (Catocalinae + (Plusiinae + (Acronictinae + (Heliothinae + (Amphipyrinae + (Hadeninae + Noctuinae)))))) were supported within Noctuidae.