Polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered butterfly Lycaena helle (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

• Main Authors: Jan Christian HABEL, Aline FINGER, Marc MEYER, Thomas SCHMITT, Thorsten ASSMANN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 2008-05-01
• Series: European Journal of Entomology
• Subjects: lepidoptera; lycaenidae; lycaena helle; microsatellite marker
• Online Access: https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200802-0019_Polymorphic_microsatellite_loci_in_the_endangered_butterfly_Lycaena_helle_Lepidoptera_Lycaenidae.php

Six polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated in the endangered butterfly Lycaena helle. Five of them provided interpretable results. We detected four to 34 alleles per locus in a total of 235 samples (males and females) collected from meadows in the Ardennes-Eifel (Germany, Luxemburg and Belgium) and the Westerwald (Germany). We collected one leg for DNA-extraction as a non-lethal method. The expected heterozygosities ranged from 48.6% to 83.1%, depending on the locus analysed. These markers are currently being used in our studies of the species´ phylogeography over its western Palearctic distribution area and for the analysis of the conservation status of the fragmented populations in Central Europe.