Vol. 76 (1) 2024

ARTICLES

Chromosome Number, Sex Chromosome Mechanism and Fluorochrome Staining Results of the Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Northeast
of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain

Ana Maria Jauset1, Alexandre Levi-Mourao1, Xavier Pons1 & Snejana Grozeva2*

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1University of Lleida, Department of Crop and Forest Sciences, Agrotecnio-Center, Av. Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
*2Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria; sngrov@gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.71424/azb76.1.002721

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Abstract
The alfalfa weevil Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) is one of the primary pests of alfalfa at southern Europe and in many regions of the world where this crop is cultivated. Morphology traits may affect the biology of one species. Detailed karyotype descriptions (chromosome morphology, size, number and banding patterns), chromosome counts and their comparative analyses are important independent tools for use in taxonomy and in understanding chromosome evolution. To test for a chromosome polymorphism among the males, a population of H. postica from the vicinity of Lleida (Spain) was examined. The study represents the chromosome number (2n=22), the sex chromosome mechanism (XYp) and the pattern of the fluorochrome staining (DAPI positive and CMA3 negative) in males. The results confirm that the chromosomes cannot be a suitable marker to distinguish the species among the genus Hypera Germar. The information available on the chromosome number and the sex chromosome mechanism of Hypera spp. is presented and discussed.

Key words
alfalfa weevil, CMA3, DAPI, differential staining, karyotype, pest

How to Cite
Jauset A.M., Levi-Mourao A., Pons X. & Grozeva S. 2024. Chromosome Number, Sex Chromosome Mechanism and Fluorochrome Staining Results of the Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Northeast
of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain. Acta zoologica bulgarica 76 (1) 135-138.

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