Vespa binghami (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is one of the 10 species in the genus Vespa distributed in South Korea and is the only nocturnal wasp. In this study, we sequenced complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the species using the Sanger method and using Vespa-specific 30 primer sets. The length of V. binghami was 15,957 bp and the total A/T content was 80.6%. The A+T-rich region of V. binghami was 152 bp, and other Vespa species ranged from 39 bp (V. velutina) to 2,230 bp (V. v. auraria). Compared to the majority of insects, the gene arrangement of V. binghami had differences as followings: trnY-trnI-trnM-trnQ, trnN-trnE-trnS1-trnF, and trnS2-trnL1. However, all species in the genus Vespa registered in GenBank to date were composed of the same arrangement. Phylogenetic analysis using 13 PCGs and 2 rRNA genes showed the sister relationship between V. binghami and V. orientalis with the higher nodal supports.

• Jee-Young Pyo(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Chonnam National University)
• Jeong Sun Park(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Chonnam National University)
• Iksoo Kim(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Chonnam National University) Corresponding author