The complete mitochondrional genome of Lycorma delicatula (White, 1845) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) using a skimming sequencing approach.

Lycorma delicatula, also known as the spotted lanternfly, is an invasive pest that was first reported in the United States in 2014. The rapidly growing geographical range of this insect in the US and potential to cause widespread economic damage in the agricultural sector, especially in grape cultivation, makes it a prime target for surveillance and control efforts. Generating L. delicatula sequence data from different locations is important for investigating population structure and source tracing of the invasion pattern. To that end, we describe the first L. delicatula US mitochondrial genome sequenced using a cost-effective genome skimming approach with the Illumina Novaseq 600 platform. The mitogenome generated in this study was 16,143 bp in length, with 37 genes and a 76.7% AT content. Phylogenetic analysis identified a L. delicatula specimen from China as the closest relative based on the sequencing data utilized in this study. This study provides new reference sequence data for the current dispersal of L. delicatula in the United States and demonstrates the utility of mitogenomes for invasive species surveillance.