Development of microsatellite markers for the endangered butterfly Luehdorfia japonica Leech, 1889 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

The endangered butterfly species Luehdorfia japonica Leech, 1889 (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) is endemic to the central and western parts of Honshu, Japan. This species inhabits deciduous forests and coppices, but areas of optimal habitats are decreasing due to the development of land and the abandonment of regular coppice management. We developed 17 microsatellite loci for L. japonica based on de novo genome sequence data and found that 16 of these loci exhibited polymorphisms in 34 individuals of L. japonica. In addition, polymorphisms of 15 of these microsatellite loci were observed in two individuals of L. puziloi. The number of alleles and the expected heterozygosity per locus in L. japonica were 2–11 and 0.11–0.83, respectively. A principal coordinate analysis based on this genetic information revealed genetic differentiation both within and among geographic populations of L. japonica. Thus, these microsatellite loci could potentially be useful for future conservation genetic studies, including monitoring the genetic diversity and population structure of this endangered butterfly species.