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Supernumerary chromosomes in Partamona cupira (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae)^*

Marco A. Costa; Silvia G. Pompolo; Lúcio A.O. Campos

Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brasil. Send correspondence to S.G.P.

ABSTRACT

In Partamona cupira, males have a regular chromosome number of n-17, and females have 2n-34. Cytogenetic analysis of 16 P. cupira colonies from the region of Viçosa, MG, using the technique of Imai et al. (Jpn. J. Genet. 63: 159-185, 1988), revealed a system of supemumerary chromosomes. This system consists of up to three small acrocentric chromosomes, varying among individuals within the same colony and from colony to colony, which, like chromosomes in the regular complement, present heterochromatin only in the pericentromeric region.

Keywords: Supernumerary chromosomes; Partamona cupira; Hymenoptera.

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* This paper is dedicated to Professor Warwick E. Kerr on the occasion of his 70^th Birthday.