The Japanese oak silkmoth, Antheraea yamamai Guérin-Méneville 1861 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), is one of the important natural resources possessing industrial value for silk fiber production. In this study, ten microsatellite markers and two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene sequences (COI and ND4) were used to investigate the genetic variation and geographic structure of A. yamamai populations in South Korea. Two mtDNA gene sequences revealed very low total genetic variation and resultant low geographic variation, validating to use further variable molecular markers. Population-based FIS, FST, RST, and global Mantel test consistently support that A. yamamai populations are overall well interconnected with a relatively high gene flow. Nevertheless, STRUCTURE analysis using microsatellite data and mtDNA sequences coincidently indicate the presence of two genetic pools in many populations.

• Seong Ryeol Kim(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Kee Young Kim(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Jun Seong Jeong(College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Chonnam National University)
• Min Jee Kim(College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Chonnam National University Department of Entomology, Purdue University)
• Ki-Hwan Kim(C&K Genomics Inc., Seoul National University)
• Kwang Ho Choi(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Iksoo Kim(College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Chonnam National University)