Characterization of microsatellite loci in the western subterranean termite, Reticulitermes hesperus, and cross-amplification in closely related cryptic species.

New, and previously reported microsatellites, were characterized for a group of four cryptic sibling species in California (USA) in the subterranean termite genus Reticulitermes with the goal of finding loci appropriate for population and species level studies. Three new microsatellites were identified originating from R. hesperus, and 19 loci previously characterized in R.

Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA sequences corroborate taxonomic designations based on cuticular hydrocarbons in subterranean termites.

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are valuable characters for the analysis of cryptic insect species with few discernible morphological characters. Yet, their use in insect systematics, specifically in subterranean termites in the genus Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), remains controversial. In this paper, we show that taxonomic designations in Reticulitermes from California (USA) suggested in light of differences among CHC phenotypes are corroborated by phylogenetic analyses using mtDNA sequences.