Identification of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the queenless, ponerine ant Diacamma ceylonense

Abstract

Diacamma ceylonense is a queenless, ponerine ant whose colonies are headed by a single, mated, egg-laying worker referred to as the gamergate. Thus, new colonies are a result of dispersal by wingless gamergates. This is expected to influence patterns of colony dispersal and spatial distribution of genetic variablity. In order to facilitate the study of population genetic structure we have identified six unique, polymorphic, microsatellite loci. We have used fluorescence tagged primers to detect polymorphism at these loci.