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Isolation and characterisation of microsatellite loci in the wasp Mischocyttarus cassununga

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Abstract

Mischocyttarus cassununga, a primitively eusocial Brazilian wasp, commonly found in urban environments, is an interesting model for studies on the evolution of social behaviour in hymenopteran insects. In this study, we constructed a microsatellite-enriched genomic library and presented primers for 18 microsatellite loci. For the analysis, 20 unrelated females were screened and all loci obtained were polymorphic. PCR amplification revealed from 3 (Mcas5b) to 17 (Mcas53b) alleles per locus (\( \overline{x} = 8.3 \)). We detected the levels of observed (H o) and expected (H e) heterozygosities ranging from 0.150 to 0.950 and 0.261 to 0.920, respectively. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.238 to 0.915, averaging 0.680. All loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and linkage disequilibrium was not detected after sequential Bonferroni correction (P > 0.05). These molecular markers will allow further studies on sociogenetic structure, extensive population genetic analysis and diversity of M. cassununga and other Mischocyttarini species.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by CAPES/PROCAD (158/2007) and by the Universidade Estadual de Londrina (FAEPE No. 01/2011). We gratefully acknowledge Dr Sidnei Mateus (USP/Ribeirão Preto) and Dr Orlando T. Silveira (Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi) for their valuable help with identification of the wasps. Thanks are also due to IBAMA/SISBIO for their permission to collect wasps. A.N. Alves received a fellowship from CNPq. We are also grateful to the two anonymous referees, who deeply contributed with valuable comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rod. Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, Londrina, PR, 86051-980, Brazil

    A. N. Alves, L. A. Vilas-Boas, C. F. Ruas & S. H. Sofia

  2. Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 277, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil

    E. A. Françoso, F. O. Francisco, L. R. Santiago & M. C. Arias

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  1. A. N. Alves
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  2. E. A. Françoso
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  3. F. O. Francisco
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  4. L. R. Santiago
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  5. L. A. Vilas-Boas
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  6. C. F. Ruas
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  7. M. C. Arias
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  8. S. H. Sofia
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Correspondence to S. H. Sofia.

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Alves, A.N., Françoso, E.A., Francisco, F.O. et al. Isolation and characterisation of microsatellite loci in the wasp Mischocyttarus cassununga . Insect. Soc. 59, 565–570 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-012-0253-7

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