A chromosomal study on a Lebanese spittlebug Philaenus arslani (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Aphrophoridae)

Abstract

The meadow spittlebug genus Philaenus (Auchenorrhyncha: Aphrophoridae) is known to display marked colour polymorphism. This study presents the results of a karyotype analysis of P. arslani from Lebanon using conventional chromosome staining, C-banding, fluorescent banding using base-specific fluorochromes (CMA3 and DAPI) and AgNOR-staining. This species has 2n = 18 + neo-XY, and differs from P. spumarius both in the number of chromosomes and sex chromosome system. During meiosis, the neo-XY bivalent is clearly heteromorphic being the largest in the complement. Furthermore, sex chromosomes show marked differences in C-banding pattern. The NOR-bearing chromosomes are the first and one of the middle-sized pairs of autosomes. NORs are G-C rich. Furthermore, some blocks of constitutive heterochromatin on the sex chromosomes are also G-C rich. All other C-bands are DAPI or DAPI/ CMA3 positive, thus containing A-T rich DNA. The significant difference in the karyotype of P. arslani and P. spumarius indicates chromosomal transformations during the evolution of the genus Philaenus.