Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Polytremis nascens (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) and their cross-amplification in related species

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from a Chinese endemic species Polytremis nascens Leech. The isolated loci in 53 individuals from six regional populations in China had 3–12 alleles. Analyses revealed that 53 individuals had different multilocus genotypes, with the expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.61 to 0.90 and observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.33 to 0.71. Eleven loci showed no deviation from Hardy–Weinberg proportions, and eight were amplified successfully in at least one of the eight related species. The described isolated markers will facilitate the study of population genetic structure and gene flow in P. nascens as well as in congeneric and related species.