Many parrots are considered endangered species due to threats from human activities. Gender determination is of great importance for biological studies and the conservation of endangered parrots. However, like other birds, gender determination in parrots is hindered due to the lack of external dimorphism between males and females. A molecular approach using the chromo-helicase-DNA binding protein 1 (CHD1) gene is commonly used for sexing birds. This study aimed to determine the gender of parrots from Korean zoos based on amplification and visualization of the partial CHD1 gene. The samples of 13 parrot species were collected from three different zoos in Korea and the extracted DNA templates were amplified using CHD1 gene primers. The gender of 27 samples of 13 species was determined by visualizing the PCR products on an agarose gel. While male parrots were indicated by a single band, female parrots were indicated by double bands. The findings provide additional information, which might be helpful for the management and care of parrots in Korean zoos.

Triceratopyga, is a common and synanthropic genus of medical and forensic significance in eastern Asia which have includes only one species, Triceratopyga calliphoroides. In this study we are reporting the complete mitogenome of the only member of the genus Triceratopyga. The structure of the compete mitogenome is similar with the common ancester fly mitogenome. The size of the mitogenome is 16,529 bp. This is the longest mitogenome recorded from the family Calliphoridae. Although the size of mitogenome is longer than previous records, structure and gene positions are identical with ancestral insect genome.

Calliphora is a genus from the family Calliphoridae, which includes blow flies and bottle flies. Calliphora flies are one of the most entomologically important fly species because of their relative time of arrival and colonization to animal carcasses. Until now there are only three complete mitochondrial genome recorded from the genus. In this study we added a new complete mitochondrial genome record from the species Calliphora lata. Although genome structures and gene orientations of the four Calliphora flies mitochondrial genome are identical. The size and nucleotide composition of the genomes are slightly different.