Abstract: 【Aim】 Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to find out the genetic diversity among and within nine geographic populations of four Dendrolimus species in China: Dendrolimus punctatus punctatus Walker, D. punctatus spectabilis Butler,D. superans Butler, D. haui Lajonquiere and D. kikuchii Matsumura. 【Methods】Six allozymes, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), malic enzyme (ME), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), formic acid dehydrogenase (FDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), were analyzed. 【Results】Ten loci and seventeen alleles were recorded with four loci polymorphic, P=40.0%. The average number of alleles per locus A was 1.700, the expected heterozygosity He 0.151, and the mean genetic distance 0.001-0.285. Among six populations of D. punctatus Walker, the coefficient of gene differentiation Fst was 0.265, and the number of migrants per generation Nm 0.692. Genetic relationships among populations and species were assessed by standard genetic distance, and it was found that D. punctatus spectabilis Butler and D. superans Butler had a closer relationship, while D. superans Butler and D. haui Lajonquiere had the farthest relationship. 【Conclusions】 According to the heredity parameters, gene flow was low and genetic drift was one of primary factors that led to the genetic differentiation among six geographic populations of D. punctatus Walker. Genetic distances were correlated with geographical distances among populations.

Key words: Dendrolimus, geographical populations, genetic diversity, allozyme, China