First complete mitochondrial genome of a Gripopterygid stonefly from the sub-order Antarctoperlaria: Zelandoperla fenestrata

Abstract

Plecoptera (stoneflies) are an anciently derived order of freshwater insects with two divergent suborders Antarctoperlaria in the southern hemisphere and Arctoperlaria primarily in the northern hemisphere. In this paper, we present the first published mitochondrial genome of an Antarctoperlarian stonefly: the New Zealand stonefly Zelandoperla fenestrata. The Z. fenestrata mitochondrial genome is 16,385 bp, with the typical insect mitogenome complement of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNA genes, along with a A + T rich control region. This mitogenome will be of interest to the study of evolutionary divergence within Polyneoptera, and will aid in phylogeographic studies of this species.