Isolation and characterization of 23 microsatellite loci in the stingless bee Melipona subnitida using next-generation sequencing

We described the isolation and characterization of 23 microsatellite loci from the stingless bee (Melipona subnitida). Out of 52 microsatellite primer pairs screened, 17 loci displayed polymorphism and 6 were monomorphic. The analysis of variability was performed in 56 individuals. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 22 among populations; values for expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.125 to 1.000 and from 0.121 to 0.923, respectively. These are the first microsatellite markers characterized for M. subnitida and they will be useful in obtaining estimates of population-level genetic diversity studies in a near future.