Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in two tropical butterflies, Drupadia theda and Arhopala epimuta (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Little is known about the effect of El Niño Southern Oscillation-induced fires on the genetic diversity of tropical rainforest species. Here, I report on the isolation and characterization of 10 microsatellite loci, five loci each, for two lycaenid butterfly species in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, namely Drupadia theda and Arhopala epimuta, which will be used to specifically study the impact of disturbance on genetic diversity. Microsatellite enrichment was carried out using streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. Positive colonies were identified with the three-primer polymerase chain reaction (PIMA). Cross-species amplifications conducted both within and between genera were successful in 16 out of 20 tests.