First illustration of chromosomes and genetic system of Lecanodiaspidinae (Homoptera, Coccinea, Asterolecaniidae s.l.)

Abstract

The karyotype of Psoraleococcusmultipori (Morrison, 1921) was studied for the first time, based on material from Indonesia (Sulawesi). The diploid chromosome number was found to be 18 in both males and females, but some cells contained also additional small chromosomal elements, probably B chromosomes. About 50 % of the studied embryos demonstrated paternal genome heterochromatinization of one haploid set of chromosomes (PGH) suggesting presence of a Lecanoid genetic system. The embryos with PGH are known to be always the male embryos in scale insects and so, bisexual reproduction may be presumed for P.multipori. The information provided represents the first probative cytogenetic data for the subfamily Lecanodiaspidinae Targioni Tozzetti, 1896 as a whole. A detailed morphological figure and photos of female and male embryonic cells are given. Additionally, it was discovered that the females of P.multipori exhibit complete ovoviviparity.

Comparative analysis of chromosome numbers and sex chromosome systems in Paraneoptera (Insecta)

“…Chromosome numbers have been reported for 506 species of scale insects belonging to 15 families (reviewed by Gavrilov 2007 and Gavrilov-Zimin et al 2015 ; see also Gavrilov-Zimin 2016 , 2017 , 2018b , 2020 ), thus comprising about 6% of the total number of coccid species described to date. The lowest chromosome number, 2n=4, is found in 21 species of the tribe Iceryini ( Margarodidae ) and in several species of the endemic Australian gall-inducing felt-scale genus Apiomorpha ( Eriococcidae ), while the highest number, 2n≈192, is found in Apiomorpha macqueeni Froggatt, 1929 ( Hughes-Schrader 1948 ; Cook 2000 , 2001 ; see for review Gavrilov 2007 ).…”