Studies on the karyotype of the ant Pachycondyla harpax (Formicidae: Ponerinae: Ponerini) in southern Bahia, Brazil

Authors

  • Yamid Arley Mera Velasco Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, 45662-900 Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
  • Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie Laboratório de Mirmecologia, CEPEC/CEPLAC, Caixa Postal 7, 45600-970 Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, 45662-900 Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
  • Marco Antonio Costa Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, 45662-900 Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
  • Sebastien Lacau Laboratório de Biossistemática Animal, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Itapetinga 45700-000, Bahia, Brazil
  • Cléa Dos Santos Ferreira Mariano Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, 45662-900 Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil Laboratório de Mirmecologia, CEPEC/CEPLAC, Caixa Postal 7, 45600-970 Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil

Keywords:

chromosomes, fluorochrome, banding metaphase, Ponerini, predatory ant, Neotropical Region

Abstract

Cytogenetic analyzes were carried out on populations of Pachycondyla harpax (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerini) in southern Bahia, Brazil. The chromosome number was variable with 2n = 90-92, and the chromosomes, predominantly acrocentric, were characterized by being small in size. The karyotype formulas of the studied populations were: Ilhéus 2K = 16M + 76A, Una 2K = 16M + 74A and Belmonte 2K = 16M + 76A. The karyotype of a fourth population (Igrapiúna) was undetermined. Fluorochrome banding shows the presence of heterochromatic blocks rich in GC in the pericentromeric region of one of the metacentric pairs, indicating the nucleolus organizer regions. The first case of a diploid male in the genus Pachycondyla is reported.

 

Estudios citogenéticos fueron realizados en poblaciones de Pachycondyla harpax (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerini) al sur de la Bahía, Brasil. El numero cromosómico es variable, con 2n = 90-92, cromosomas predominantemente acrocentricos caracterizados por ser de pequeño tamaño. Las formulas cariotípicas de las poblaciones estudiadas fueron: Ilhéus 2K=16M + 76A, Una 2K = 16M + 74A y Belmonte 2K = 16M + 76A. El cariotipo de una cuarta población (Igrapiúna) no se determinó. Los resultados de coloración con fluorocromos muestran la presencia de bloques heterocromaticos ricos en GC en la región pericentromérica de uno de los pares metacéntricos, indicando la región organizadora de nucleótidos. Es reportado el primer caso de diploidia en machos del genero Pachycondyla.


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Issue

Vol. 97, No. 3 (September 2014)

Section

Research Papers

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