Cytogenetics of the parthenogenetic grasshopper Warramaba (formerly Moraba) virgo and its bisexual relatives

Abstract

The karyotypes of Warramaba virgo and the two bisexual species which gave rise to it, by hybridization, have been studied by the C- and G-banding techniques. W. virgo consists of a number of clones which differ by a limited number of inversions, translocations and fusions and also in C-banding pattern. In general, each local population consists of a single clone, although instances are known where two clones exist at the same locality. A total of fifteen cytological clones are here recognised and described. Some of these are known from single localities, while others have been found at several collecting sites in the same general area. The differences between them in banding pattern are relatively minor, i.e. the architecture of the karyotype has been highly conserved. A total of 50 C-bands have been recognised in W. virgo, but some of these are only present in a single clone and most clones have 39–40 bands. Most of these are centromeric or interstitial; a few are terminal (telomeric) in the short arms. There are three types of bands, dark-staining centromeric ones, intermediate ones that are somewhat less densely staining, and lighter ones that appear “grey” even after successful C-banding. The C-banding pattern of W. virgo provides additional evidence for its origin by hybridization between the bisexual species “P196” and “P169”. It is possible that W. virgo arose only “once” (i.e. from one or more matings between P196 and P169 individuals in the same deme, within a few generations). However, two clones (Zanthus and Boulder), which are themselves closely similar, differ so much in banding pattern from all others that they may have arisen independently.