Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers in <i>Zabrotes subfasciatus</i> Boheman (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Bruchid beetles of the genus <i>Zabrotes</i> (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) are important worldwide pests of legume seeds. Samples of <i>Zabrotes subfasciatus</i> and <i>Z. sylvestris</i> were collected from seeds of two <i></i>Phaseolus species throughout Mexico to assess the role of host plant variation and plant domestication on the evolution of host use in this species. For this purpose six polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for the bruchid <i>Z. subfasciatus</i>. Cross-species amplification tests were performed on <i>Z. sylvestris</i> and revealed that three loci amplified successfully and were polymorphic in this closely related species.