The complete mitochondrial genome of Reticulitermes labralis and implications for rhinotermitidae taxonomy

Abstract

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Reticulitermes labralis was analyzed. This mitochondrial genome is a circular molecule of 15,914 bp in length and has the same gene content and organization as that found in other Reticulitermes species. It contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs (12S and 16S rRNA) and a non-coding AT-rich region (CR). The total base composition is strongly biased toward A + T nucleotides (65.1%). Most of the genes are encoded on the H strand, except for the other four protein-coding genes and eight tRNA genes on the L strand. The phylogenetic tree based on the nucleotide sequences of 13 mitochondrial PCGs using the Bayesian inference method supports the traditional morphologically analysis.