Development of microsatellite markers for Peristenus digoneutis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a key natural enemy of tarnished plant bugs

The introduced European parasitoid Peristenus digoneutis is a key biocontrol agent of lygus bug pests in agricultural crops in the Northeastern USA. Changes in cultural practices and reduction of alfalfa culture have significantly reduced its abundance in its native range from historic levels. Of 48 microsatellite loci isolated from P. digoneutis genome using 454 pyrosequencing, 24 were retained based upon consistent amplification. Sixteen loci exhibited polymorphism in populations sampled in France and the USA. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 9. The observed heterozygosity (H o) and the expected heterozygosity (H e) varied from 0.043 to 0.710 and from 0.103 to 0.728, respectively. Most loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium with the exclusion of five loci. These polymorphic loci will be valuable for population genetic studies and genetic conservation for P. digoneutis.