Wing reduction; its control and consequences in a lygaeid bug, Spilostethus pandurus

Abstract

A shortwinged form of the lygaeid bug Spilostethus pandurus is described from laboratory cultures of bugs collected on Cyprus. Both front and hind wings are reduced to about the length of the scutellum. Differences in wing pad development are also easily discernible in the last three larval instars. Shortwinged bugs have a longer and narrower thorax, and a longer proboscis than normal longwinged ones. Their flight muscles are. however, fully developed. No clear differences occur in life history traits such as generation time, rate of egg laying, total egg production, egg size or adult survival. Crossing data show that shortwing‐edness is determined by a recessive gene. However, in some crosses deviating (usually lowered) frequencies of the shortwinged form occurred, suggesting epistatic interactions. The findings are discussed in relation to possible early steps in the evolution of wing reduction in insects. Copyright © 1989, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved