Chromosomes of Wagimo signatus and W. abei (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)

Abstract

Two karyotypes and the number of their constituting chromosomes are examined in this paper for two Wagimo species (Lycaenidae, Lycaeninae, Theclini): W. signatus (Butler, 1881) from Japan and W. abei Koiwaya, 2002 from Myanmar. The diploid chromosome number is basically 2n, 42 in these two species, but that of the former varies from 2n, 42 to 44. A reduction in the basic number of chromosomes from 2n, 48 (the modal number in Lycaenidae) may partly be explained by fusion of chromosomes because four large chromosomes are observed in both species. Specimens of W. signatus with 2n, 44 have been found mainly in the Quercus serrata forests in Aomori Prefecture in Japan. An increase in the chromosome number from the basic 2n, 42 is considered to have occurred as the result of a breakage in two of the four large chromosomes.