To analyze the genetic diversity of Aedes albopictus populations in the coastal areas of southern China by using the microsatellite markers to provide a basis for the control of vectors.

Genetic diversity and clustering analysis of Aedes albopictus populations were studied in the 7 microsatellite loci, in Hangzhou, Ningbo and Yiwu of Zhejiang province, Longyan of Fujian province, Guangzhou of Guangdong province, Nanning of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Haikou of Hainan province.

Numbers of different alleles (5.429-7.571), effective alleles (2.897-3.632), allele richness (5.236-7.170) and expected heterozygosity (0.538- 0.637) were detected from each of the Aedes albopictus population by using 7 microsatellite markers. The inbreeding coefficients appeared as 0.008-0.332, with heterozygote deficiency, in these populations. Fixation index of the whole populations was 0.058, suggesting that the genetic variation among the 7 populations was 5.8%. Data from the Neighbor-Joining clustering analysis showed that populations from Hangzhou and Yiwu belonged to one branch while Longyan and Guangzhou populations constituted another branch. Aedes albopictus populations of Nanning and Haikou showed great genetic variation but formed a single branch. Bayesian analysis on Aedes albopictus populations showed that the possible number of clusters was 3.

Based on 7 microsatellite loci, relatively high genetic diversity and medium level of genetic differentiation that increasing with the geographical distances, were found in these Aedes albopictus populations, from the coastal areas in southern China.

Aedes albopictus; Microsatellite marker; Genetic polymorphism; Genetic differentiation