Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of <i>Dolichovespula kuami</i> (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

This study is part of an ongoing systematic research on the Korean Vespidae fauna. The complete mitochondrial genome of the social wasp <i>D. kuami</i> collected in South Korea was sequenced and annotated. The circular genome was 15,671 bp long and comprised 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that <i>D. kuami</i> formed a monophyletic clade with other <i>Dolichovespula</i> species, indicating its distinctiveness despite being the sister group to <i>D. flora</i>. These findings confirm the taxonomic status of <i>D. kuami</i> and provide valuable genomic data for future phylogenetic studies of the Vespidae family.