Phylogeography and genetic relationship within Erebia neriene (Böber, 1890) in eastern Asia inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Little is known about the genetic relationships within Erebia neriene (Böber, 1890) complexes inhabiting areas outside the Japanese Archipelago. In this study, we investigated genetic variations in E. neriene individuals collected from eastern Asia using mitochondrial sequences to reveal the phylogeny and genetic relationships among E. neriene complexes inhabiting areas outside the Japanese Archipelago. This study revealed greater genetic differentiation and a clear genetic structure among E. neriene neriene and E. neriene scoparia (Butler, 1882) populations. This is the first population genetics study of these subspecies.