Abstract
BackgroundWe used Illumina paired-end-sequencing to isolate and characterize microsatellites of Canthon cyanellus, a Neotropical roller dung beetle encompassing several lineages within its distribution range.Methods and ResultsWe examined C. cyanellus specimens collected at eight different localities in Mexico (two or three specimens per locality). We initially made amplification tests with 16 loci, but two of these showed amplification problems; thus, we evaluated 14 loci. The 14 microsatellites were polymorphic, with 2–16 alleles each. The expected and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.11 to 0.76 and from 0.20 to 0.78, respectively. ConclusionsThese microsatellites will help to assess structure at the population and lineage levels, identify zones of potential hybridization between lineages, and draw a more precise geographic delimitation of Canthon cyanellus lineages.
Isolation and characterization of 23 microsatellite loci in the stingless bee Melipona subnitida using next-generation sequencing