HIGH-RESOLUTION CHROMOSOME ANALYSIS IN LEPIDOPTERA

Improved methods for obtaining good cytological preparations from testicular tissues of Lepidoptera are described. Testes were pretreated with various hypotonic solutions, fixed in Carnoy''s, and slides prepared using air dry-squash and cell suspension-air dry techniques. Air-dried slides were stained directly with Giemsa or treated with the C-band technique prior to staining. Well-spread chromosomes with good morphological characteristics were found in spermatogonial cells and spermatocytes of all stages. A detailed characterization of the mitotic chromosome complement and 1st meiotic division in .male. of the hesperiids Pyrgus oileus (L.), P. albescens (Ploetz) and Lerema accius (Smith and Abbot) and the noctuids Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), Argyrogramma veruca (Fab.) and Prodenia ornithogalli Guenee are described.