Cytogenetic Studies on Workers of the Neotropical Ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger 1863) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) |
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| Authors: | Ana Lúcia Biggi de Souza Cléa dos Santos Ferreira Mariano Sílvia das Graças Pompolo José Eduardo Serrão |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas , Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia , Jequié , BA , 45206–190 , Brazil anabiggi@bol.com.br;3. UPA Laboratório de Mirmecologia, Convênio CEPLAC/UESC, C.P. 7 , Ilhéus, BA , 45600–000 , Brazil;4. Departamento de Biologia Geral , Universidade Federal de Vi?osa , Vi?osa , MG , 36570–000 , Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Wasmannia auropunctata is known as one of the worst invasive ants in the World. A cytogenetic study was conducted on two native populations from southeastern Bahia, Brazil. The analysis of the chromosomes observed in mitotic metaphases was made by a combination of methods: Giemsa conventional staining, chromomycin A3 (CMA3) and 4-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorochrome staining, and acridine orange banding. The workers have all the karyotype 2n=32, with ten pairs of metacentric and six pairs of acrocentric chromosomes. One chromosome arm of the pair ten was positive for CMA3 and acridine orange, suggesting the occurrence of a nucleolar organizing region. This region is an interesting marker because is very conservative and seems to constitute an interesting specific taxonomic character. The pericentromeric region of many chromosomes was stained with DAPI, evidencing the occurrence of AT bases rich heterochromatin. |
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| Keywords: | Karyotype ant DAPI and CMA bands acridine orange NORs |
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