Socially parasitic ants are dependent on societies of other ant species. Because they require large and healthy host populations, most species are currently listed by IUCN as threatened, but little is known about their population structure based on genetic investigation, and thus their actual risk of loss of genetic variability and extinction. Recently, we developed 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci suitable for such investigations in the slave-making ant, Myrmoxenus ravouxi (Formicidae: Myrmicinae).

Myrmoxenus is one of six socially parasitic genera in the tribe Formicoxenini. Its 12 species parasitize ants of the related genus Temnothorax around the Mediterranean Sea. Here, we focused on the species M. ravouxi, which occupies a larger geographic range than its congeners. It therefore is a most intriguing model organism for population genetic analyses. Between 2008-2010 we collected M. ravouxi from dead twigs and under bark in a pine-oak forest from three different populations in Southern Germany; Kallmuenz, Schoenhofen and Weichseldorf. After DNA-extraction using a modified CTAB protocol we conducted fragment analysis using an ABI PRISM 310 for phylogeographic analysis with all populations and for population genetics with Kallmuenz population.

We discuss the genetic variability and how each population is genetically structured in this ant species.