Characterization of six microsatellite loci in the African wild silk moth (Gonometa postica,Lasiocampidae)

Six microsatellite markers were developed for the African wild silk moth, Gonometa postica (Lasiocampidae), using an enrichment protocol. The total number of alleles ranged from three to 17 for a sample of 130 individuals across the distribution of the species. Observed levels of heterozygosity ranged from 0.17 to 0.78. Deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium detected in some loci is probably the result of large interannual population size fluctuations characteristic of this species. No evidence of linkage disequilibrium was detected among loci. These loci will be useful for the inference of demographic processes in a moth species that is of potential economic importance.