The complete mitochondrial genome of Histiostoma blomquisti (Acari: Histiostomatidae)

Abstract

The mite Histiostoma blomquisti is a microorganism feeder that uses the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) as a phoretic carrier for dispersal. We sequenced the H. blomquisti mitogenome using next-generation sequencing methods. The circular mitogenome of H. blomquisti is 15,892 bp and is composed of 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and 6 non-coding regions >100 bp. Most tRNAs are highly reduced, like those found in other Acariformes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated nucleotide sequence of the 13 protein-coding genes supports Histiostomatid mites forming the basal-most lineage in Astigmata.