Artigo
Cytogenetic data on the agro-predatory ant Megalomyrmex incisus Smith, 1947 and its host, Mycetophylax conformis (Mayr, 1884) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
Autor
Pereira, Tássia Tatiane Pontes
Cardoso, Danon Clemes
Cordeiro, Alessandro Lick
Cristiano, Maykon Passos
Institución
Resumen
We provide the first karyotype description of the agro-predatory ant species Megalomyrmex incisus Smith, 1947 (Myrmicinae, Formicidae), and chromosome counts of its host Mycetophylax conformis (Mayr, 1884) (Myrmicinae, Formicidae) from geographically distinct populations. Colonies of both species were sampled from coastal areas of Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, and transferred to the laboratory. Metaphase spreads were
prepared from the cerebral ganglia of defecated larvae. The slides were examined and pictures of the best metaphases were taken. The chromosome number for M. incisus was 2n=50 and n=25. The karyotype of this species consists of 20 metacentric and 5 submetacentric pairs. Thus, the karyotype formula of the
diploid set was 2K=40M + 10SM and a fundamental number FN=100. The host species M. conformis has 2n=30 and the karyotype consisting of 11 metacentric and 4 submetacentric pairs. The karyotype formula was 2K=22M + 8SM, and a fundamental number FN=60. M. incisus showed a slightly higher
chromosome number, placed at the marginal range of the known distribution of haploid karyotypes of the Myrmicinae. The chromosome number and chromosomal morphology of M. conformis corresponded to those of previously studied populations, suggesting its karyotype stability.