Characterization of the mitochondrial genome of the lawn cutworm <i>Spodoptera depravata</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The lawn cutworm, Spodoptera depravata, is one of the most important pests that causes economic damage to grass crops. This study reports the complete mitochondrial genome of an S. depravata sample collected in China. The genome is a circular molecule 15,460 bp in length with an overall A + T content of 81.6%. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The gene content and organization of the mitogenome of S. depravata are identical to those of other Spodoptera species. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on mitogenomes showed a close evolutionary relationship between S. depravata and S. exempta. This study provides new molecular data for the identification and further phylogenetic analyses of Spodoptera species.草坪切根虫（lawn cutworm）即怪夜蛾（Spodoptera depravata），是一类可对禾本科作物造成经济危害的重要害虫。本研究报道了采自中国的怪夜蛾（S. depravata）样本的完整线粒体基因组。该基因组为环状DNA分子，全长15460 bp，整体A+T含量达81.6%，包含13个蛋白质编码基因、22个转运RNA（transfer RNA）基因以及2个核糖体RNA（ribosomal RNA）基因。怪夜蛾线粒体基因组（mitogenome）的基因组成与排布模式与其他夜蛾属（Spodoptera）物种完全一致。基于最大似然法（maximum-likelihood）的线粒体基因组系统发育分析显示，怪夜蛾与S. exempta（Spodoptera exempta）具有较近的演化亲缘关系。本研究为夜蛾属物种的鉴定及后续系统发育分析提供了新的分子数据。