Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Monolepta vincta Gerstaecker, 1871 (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)

Nine polymorphic microsatellite markers of Monolepta vincta Gerstaecker, 1871 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) have been characterized. An analysis of 140 individuals demonstrated the high degree of polymorphism for these loci with a mean number of 10.6 alleles per locus. Primer sets were also tested in M. usambarica Weise, 1903, M. vilis Weise, 1924 and an as yet undescribed Monolepta sp. Some primer sets yielded amplification products in these closely related species with a detectable degree of polymorphism. The markers will be used for a population genetic study of M. vincta populations in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya.