A chromosomal investigation of three species of Papilio (Papilionidae:Lepidoptera)

Abstract

Lepidoptera is one of the largest orders of the class Insecta which includes\rbutterflies and moths and is economically, biologically and aesthetically an important order.\rChromosome structure and size are of great significance in karyological studies and have\rrelevance to evolution, speciation and chromosome organization. Karyotypic studies in\rLepidoptera has been a difficult task due to small dot- like chromosomes of similar sizes. The\rchromosome cytology of Indian Lepidoptera is very much limited. Chromosome studies in\rthree species of butterflies (Papilio polytes, Papilio demoleus, Papilio glaucus) revealed 60\ras diploid chromosome number.