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K.Maeki, M.Ogata and T.Shirozu (1965)
A study of the chromosome in twenty-five species of formosan Rhopalocera.
Spec. Bull. Lepid. Soc. Jap., N0.1, 30(XII):1-lO (1965).

Summary

The morphology of chromosomes was investigated with special regard to their number and sizes in 25 species of Formosan Rhopalocera which comprises 3 species of Papilionidae, 7 species of Pieridae, 1 species of Danaidae, 5 species of Satyridae, 8 species of Nymphalidae, and 1 species of Lycaenidae. Twenty-two species here considered have furnished new material for cytology. All the chromosome counts were made from spermatocyte divisions. The results of chromosome counts are shown in Table 1.

All the species of the Papilionidae studied have 30 chromosomes without exception. The chromosome-number of Appias lyncida is 32, the same number being reported in A. drusilla from North America. Euthalia thibetana has an unusual number of chromosome (n=14), being exceptional as a member of the Limentinae.

Byasa polyeuctes differs from B. alicinonus from Japan on account of the fact that meiotic divisions occur in adult males.


Karyotype of Papilio polytes pasikrates (n, 30, II). II : secondary spermatocyte (n=30).

The haploid chromosome-number is 30. Counts were in 10 nuclei of the second spermatocyte in the testis of a single male obtained at Chipon, on 1 July (CH18, 1961). No dividing figures were found in the primary spermatocyte. The size of indivisual chromosomes is apparently similar.

As a fixative, Allen's PFA-3 solution was used. The sections, 10 micra in thickness, were made according to the usual paraffin method and stained with Heidemnhain's iron-hematoxylin with counterstaining by light green. Camera lucida drawings were made at the magnification of 4200 diameters. The photomicrographs were taken by the aid of an Olympus PM-6 camera.