Phylogenetic analyses based on whole mitochondrial genome sequences, the Wnding of a tandem triplication of a 126 bp repeat element only in Japanese mandarina, and chromosome number variation in B. mandarina suggest that B. mori must have shared its recent common ancestor with Chinese mandarina. Another wild species of the Bombycidae family, Theophila religiosa, whose phylogenetic status was not clear, clustered together with the other bombycid moths in the study. Analysis of the interspeciWc hybrid, A. proylei gave evidence for paternal inheritance of mitochondrial