Abstract
The esterase isozymes of eggs of the yellow-spotted longicorn beetle, Psacothea hilaris hilaris, were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into two major band groups, Est-A (Rm=0.32-0.38) and -B (Rm=0.48-0.52). All the newly-laid eggs produced by a female showed an identical esterase zymogram. Est-A was found in eggs laid by all females collected at various localities in Japanese mainland. Almost all the females collected from the eastern districts of Japan produced eggs with Est-B (Electromorph-2, Em-2), while over 50% of the females from the west districts produced eggs lacking Est-B (Electromorph-1, Em-1). The distribution of Em-1 seems to resemble that of 'west Japan type' of this insect, which has been distinguished from 'east Japan type' by the difference of the spot pattern on the pronotum and the seasonal prevalence of adults. These characters, however, did not seem to be correlated with the presence of Est-B when examined individually.
