Résumé
The recently discovered insect order Mantophasmatodea currently comprises
19 Southern African species. These mainly occur in allopatry, have high
levels of colour polymorphism and communicate via species- and
gender-specific vibratory signals. High levels of interspecific
morphological conservatism mean that cryptic species are likely to be
uncovered. These aspects of Mantophasmatodean biology make them an ideal
group in which to investigate population divergence due to
habitat-specific adaptation, sexual selection and potentially sensory
speciation. Lack of appropriate genetic markers has thus far rendered such
studies unfeasible. To address this need, the first microsatellite loci
for this order were developed. Fifty polymorphic loci were designed
specifically for Karoophasma biedouwense (Austrophasmatidae), out of which
23 were labelled and tested for amplification across the order using 2-3
individuals from 10 species, representing all four currently known
families. A Bayesian COI topology was reconstructed and divergence dates
within the order were estimated for the first time. Amplification success
and levels of polymorphism were compared with genetic divergence and time
since divergence. In agreement with studies on vertebrate taxa, both
amplification and variability were negatively correlated with distance
(temporal and genetic). The high number of informative loci will offer
sufficient resolution for both broad level population genetic analysis and
individual based pedigree or parentage analyses for most species in
Austrophasmatidae, with at least some loci available for the other
families. This resource will facilitate research into the evolutionary
biology of this understudied but fascinating group.