Complete mitogenome of the Painted Jezebel, Delias hyparete Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and its comparison with other butterfly species

In the present study, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the Painted Jezebel, Delias hyparete. The mitogenome of Delias hyparete is 15 186 bp in length, and has typical sets of 37 genes: 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs and a non-coding A+T-rich region. All protein-coding genes are initiated by ATN codons, except for COI, which is tentatively designated by the CGA codon, as observed in other butterfly species. A total of 10 PCGs harbored the complete termination codon TAA or TAG, while the COI, COII and ND5 genes ended at a single T residue. All 22 tRNA genes show typical clover structures, with the exception of the tRNA^Ser(AGN) which lacks the dihydrouridine (DHU) stem and is instead replaced by a simple loop. Thirteen intergenic spacers totaling 153 bp, and 13 overlapping regions totaling 46 bp are scattered throughout the whole genome. The 377 bp long of D. hyparete A+T-rich region is not comprised of large repetitive sequences, but harbors several features characteristic of the lepidopteran insects, including the motif ATAGA followed by an 18 bp poly-T stretch, a microsatellite-like (AT)₅ element preceded by the ATTTA motif, an 10 bp polyA-like stretch (AAAAATAAAA) present immediately upstream tRNA^Met.