Intraspecific variation in the mitochondrial genomes of the black carpet beetle, Attagenus unicolor japonicus Reitter (1877) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Dermestid beetles are economically important pests of various stored products but their genetic studies remain insufficient on contrary to their diversity and importance. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the black carpet beetle, Attagenus unicolor japonicus Reitter 1877, was reported and compared with the previously sequenced one. The two A. unicolor japonicus mitogenomes had an identical set of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes as well as a large non-coding control region. The new mitogenome was longer than the previous one due to its longer control region. A total of 126 variable sites were detected between the new and previous mitogenomes and most of them were found in PCGs. Synonymous mutations in PCGs frequently occurred on the third codon positions and did not change most translated amino acids. The phylogenetic results based on both the nucleotide dataset and amino acid dataset corresponded with previous molecular studies at both generic and subfamilial levels and helped to determine the correct identity of two misidentified or unidentified dermestid species from GenBank and previous studies.