Molecular analysis and genetic diversity of <i>Aedes albopictus</i> (Diptera, Culicidae) from China

<p><i>Aedes albopictus</i> is one of the most invasive species, which can carry Dengue virus, Yellow fever virus and more than twenty arboviruses. Based on mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and samples collected from 17 populations, we investigated the molecular character and genetic diversity of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> from China. Altogether, 25 haplotypes were detected, including 10 shared haplotypes and 15 private haplotypes. H1 was the dominant haplotype, which is widely distributed in 13 populations. Tajima’<i>D</i> value of most populations was significantly negative, demonstrating that populations experienced rapid range expansion recently. Most haplotypes clustered together both in phylogenetic and median-joining network analysis without clear phylogeographic patterns. However, neutrality tests revealed shallow divergences among Hainan and Guangxi with other populations (0.15599 ≤ <i>F_ST</i> ≤ 0.75858), which probably due to interrupted gene flow, caused by geographical isolations. In conclusion, <i>Ae. albopictus</i> populations showed low genetic diversity in China.