Inter-population sex chromosome polymorphism in the grasshopper Podisma pedestris

The montane grasshopper Podisma pedestris exists in Europe in two chromosomally distinct kinds of population. One has an XO/XX sex chromosome mechanism and a diploid chromosome number of 23 male, 24 female. The other has a neo-XY/neo-XX system and a diploid number of 22 in each sex. The development of the neo sex system in this instance has resulted from an X/L₃ fusion which has converted the telocentric X element into a metacentric neo-X. In the neo-XY male this has led to a considerable restriction of chiasma formation in the region proximal to the centromere in the L₃ arm of the neo-X. Since this kind of chromosome change must initially have involved a single individual it could only have succeeded in a small population isolate which underwent rapid expansion immediately following the fusion. Such an origin would have been considerably facilitated by either a modification in sex ratio or else some form of meiotic drive.