Chromosomes of Five Species of Spittle Bugs (Homoptera, Cercopidae)

Abstract

Chromosomes of five species of Cercopidae, viz., Cosmoscarta dimidiata, C. septempunctata, C. decisa, C. egens and C. fulviceps have been studied. Each species showed diploid count of 28 chromosomes. Except C. egens, all other species exhibited XY sex chromosome system in male. Neo-XY mechanism has been encountered in C. egens. Though the behaviour of the chromosome is found to be normal during meiosis, a laggard was observed in C. dimidiata.