Characterizing the Mitogenome of the Endemic Bumblebee Subspecies from the Canary Islands for Conservation Purposes

Abstract

The taxonomic status of Bombus terrestris subspecies is complex and has deep implications in the management of commercial bumblebees for crop pollination as well as in the establishment of appropriate conservation plans. Herein, the complete mitogenome of the endemic Canary Islands subspecies Bombus terrestris canariensis is newly sequenced and compared with available mitochondrial sequences in order to shed light into its taxonomic status. The mitochondrial genome was 17,300 bp in length and contained 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNAs, and 22 tRNAs and a partial sequence of the AT rich control region. The phylogenetic analysis of PCGs of the mitogenome was congruent with its subspecific status and a close relationship with the North African subspecies africanus as previously suggested. The sequencing of the mitogenome of B. t. canariensis provides useful genetic information to study the conservation genetics and genetic diversity of these island bumblebee populations.