Complete mitochondrial genome of Eurema blanda and phylogenetic relationship with its congener E. hecabe and other pierid butterflies

Eurema blanda is a member of the hecabe group of pierid butterflies belonging to the subfamily Coliadinae. We report here its complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) determined by next-generation sequencing and its phylogenetic relationship with its congener E. hecabe and other pierid butterflies. The whole mitogenome possessed 37 genes and a control region. It had a total length of 15,123 bp. The start codons ATA and ATC present in E. hecabe were not represented in E. blanda. In both species, the cloverleaf structure of trnS1 lacked the DHU-arm, and trnF lacked the TψC-loop. Molecular phylogeny based on 37 mt-genes reveals close affinity between E. blanda and E. hecabe although not as a sister group. The three subfamilies (Pierinae, Coliadinae and Dismorphiinae) of Pieridae are monophyletic, with Pierinae and Coliadinae forming a clade distinct from that of Dismorphiinae. The complete mitogenome is suitable for studying genetic diversity, systematics and higher-level phylogeny.