In this work, we describe a complete mitochondrial genome of chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki. In spite of unique ecology of this species, the larvae are able to survive years of complete desiccation; the circular mitochondrial genome keeps basic structure and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA, and 22 tRNA genes, and has a total length of 16 060 bp. Low GC level, small regulatory region, and unusually high number and length of non-coding spacers are the main determined features.
Keywords: Anhydrobiosis; desiccation resistance; mitochondrial genome; sleeping chironomid.