SOMATIC CHROMOSOMES OF HIGHER DIPTERA: I. DIFFERENTIATION OF TACHINID PARASITES

Abstract

A method of analysis of somatic chromosome complements in cells of the brains of larvae and pupae is presented. Tachinid species have regularly 12 chromosomes in their somatic complements. These consist of five metacentric pairs and a pair of sex chromosomes which are acrocentric in most species. Careful measurement, on drawings, of each arm of each chromosome provides a basis for calculating the percentage that each pair constitutes of the total complement length and for determining the ratio of the long to the short arm for each pair. Results of analysis and other distinguishing features of the chromosome complements are presented for Aplomya caesar, A. mitis, Ceracia dentata, Ceromasia auricaudata, Drino bohemica, Eumea westermanni, Lydella grisescens, Madremyia saundersii, Mericia ampelus, Nemorilla pyste, Neophorocera hamata, Omotoma fumiferanae, Phryxe pecosensis, Spathimeigenia sp., Winthemia datanae, and W. occidentis. Most of these species can be distinguished by differences in the morphology of their chromosomes.