Characterisation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in three copper butterfly species (Lycaena spp.)

The genus Lycaena is widely used for studying life history evolution, local adaptation, stress biology, and behavior. Furthermore, several species are currently declining and thus of conservation concern. In order to provide the molecular basis for population genetics and conservation biology, we report the development of 36 microsatellite markers for Lycaena spp. Loci were screened in 21 individuals each per species using individuals from Greifswald, north-eastern Germany (L. tityrus) or the Italian and Austrian Alps (L. hippothoe and L. virgaureae). Ten, sixteen, and ten polymorphic microsatellite loci are characterised in L. tityrus, L. hippothoe, and L. virgaureae, respectively. Allele numbers per locus ranged from three to 20 and expected heterozygosity from 0.37 to 0.94. Nineteen out of the 36 loci were successfully cross-amplified in at least one other taxon, resulting in a total of 13 loci for L. tityrus tityrus, 14 for L. tityrus subalpinus, 20 for L. hippothoe, and 18 for L. virgaureae. These markers will be useful for addressing population genetic issues in L. tityrus, L. hippothoe, and L. virgaureae, and potentially other Copper butterflies.