Karyotype and C-banding patterns of the katydid Mecopoda elongata (L.) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Mecopodinae) from Amami Is. (Japan) and Borneo (Malaysia)

Abstract

Two types of the karyomorphs in the katydid Mecopoda elongata (L.) from Borneo (Malaysia) and Amami Is. (Japan) were found. The chromosomal complement of M. elongata from Amami Is. and one karyomorph from Borneo (Kota Kinabalu – song 1) consists of 28 autosomes plus the X in the male (2n = 29). In two long pairs, pair L1 is metacentric, whereas pair L2 is subacrocentric. Other autosomes are meta or submetacentric. The size and shape of the X chromosome is similar to the L1 pair. “Kota Kinabalu - song-2” karyomorph has the same chromosome number as “KK song-1” and “Amami”. However, in “KK song-2” the autosomes belonging to L2 pair are metacentric. The size of these chromosomes is approximately similar to the L1 pair and the X chromosome. The discrete chromosome differentiation in M. elongata suggest that this species consists of several biological species. In M. elongata from Borneo, the assumption of a belonging of two groups of the karyomorphs to different species proves to be true also in differences in crepitating.

Key words:

• karyotypes
• C-banding
• evolution
• Orthoptera