Evolution of chromosome number in mealybugs (Pseudococcidae: Homoptera)

Chromosome numbers of over 90 species of mealybugs are presented (71 for the first time). The diploid chromosome number (2n) ranged from 8 to 64, but over 68% of the species had 2n=10, and 10 is considered to represent the ancestral 2n in this family. Since only 4 species had 2n<10,and 26 had 2n>10, it is concluded that in this family increases in 2n occurred much more often than decreases. The data are compared to those from two other coccid families, the Diaspididae and the Eriococcidae. Unexpectedly, in both the Pseudococcidae and the Diaspididae the frequency of species with the modal 2n is lowest among species from monotypic genera and from genera from which only a single species was examined, and increases with the increase in the number of species examined per genus.(died June 10, 1977)