Characterization of 13 microsatellite markers for the threatened, slave-making ant Myrmoxenus ravouxi (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Socially parasitic ants are dependent on societies of other ant species. Because they require large and healthy host populations, most species are currently listed by IUCN as threatened, but little is known about their actual risk of extinction. Here, we describe 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci suitable for the investigation of the slave-making ant Myrmoxenus ravouxi . In a sample of workers from 17 colonies collected near Regensburg, Southern Germany, the loci had between three and 11 alleles. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.467 to 0.938 and from 0.579 to 0.852, respectively. Most loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Our markers will be useful for studies on the genetic structure of M. ravouxi but presumably also for research on other genera of the intensively studied ant tribe Formicoxenini.