Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci within a young Boophilus microplus metapopulation

Nine microsatellite loci from the cattle tick Boophilus microplus were isolated and characterized within New Caledonia. This Pacific island was invaded by the cattle tick from a few immigration events dating from mid‐20th century. A population survey involving 94 adult ticks indicated monomorphism at one locus, presence of null alleles at another, and high genetic diversity (0.61–0.72) at seven loci apparently suitable for population genetics studies. This opens the opportunity to dissect the populational mechanisms involved in the spectacular capacity of B. microplus to cope with local environmental heterogeneity during its recurrent invasions of tropical areas.