Karyological studies of an Indian cricket Madasumma ventralis Walker (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

SUMMARY

Both mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of Madasumma ventralis were reported for the first time under the sub-family Podoscirtinae. Chromosomes prepared from the hepatic caeca cells and spermatogonial plates revealed within the same species 3 classes of karyotypes: Class-A with 2n ♀ = 15, Class-B with 2n ♀ = 14 and Class-C with 2n ♀ = 13. These numerical differences were due to presence or absence of either one or both partners of chromosome pair 5. Different chromosomal combinations with 2n ♀ = 15,14 or 13 were also observed in metaphase-I plates. TCL has been calculated to be 40.51 μm. Unlike all other species of gryllids, X-chromosome was the 3rd largest in number and of sm-type.