Genetic Variation Of Hypolimnas Bolina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) From Urban And Forested Areas In Western Sarawak

Hypolimnas bolina is butterfly from family Nymphalidae which is widely distributed at urban and forested area. The objectives of this study are to establish DNA protocol of insects, to test the effectiveness of partial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COi) on detection of insects variation at population level and to examine whether there are genetic variations among H. bolina between population in urban and forested area by using partial mitochondrial DNA COi. Genetic diversity and nucleotide diversity was estimated by using DNASP 4.0. A minimum-spanning network (MSN) was generated by using Network 4.5.0.2 to reveal haplotype network relationship of H. bolina between urban and forested area. There are no genetic variations between forested and urban area. This might suggest the gene is not a good genetic marker at population level or it might indicate recent invasion population. It is recommended to use whole genome mtDNA of COi for further analysis and use other genetic marker such as control region marker