Color polymorphism in Chauliognathus flavipes Fabricius (Coleoptera, Cantharidae): II. Patterns of emergence of morphs and mating system

Abstract

This study presents data on the color polymorphism in Chauliognathus flavipes Fabricius 1781 (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), analysing the variations in the emergence pattern of phenotypic classes for elytra color and mating system. The frequency of the phenotypic classes varies significantly throughout the season (males:X² = 59,705; females: X² = 61,017; 10 gl; p<0.001) being similar in males and females. The frequency of classes does not differ significantly among the insects that were copulating and those that were not copulating at the time of collection, i.e., the matings are random for elytra color patterns. The variations observed in frequency of phenotypic classes are not influenced by factors associated with sex. Furthermore, the elytra color patterns probably do not influence the individuals' ability to copulate.

Polymorphism; phenotypic class; emergence; assortative mating; Coleoptera

Color polymorphism in Chauliognathus flavipes Fabricius (Coleoptera, Cantharidae). II. Patterns of emergence of morphs and mating system

Vilmar Machado^I; Aldo Mellender de Araújo^II

^ILaboratório de Genética, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos. Caixa Postal 275, 93022-000 São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. E-mail: [e-mail]

^IIDepartamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Caixa Postal 15053, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. E-mail: [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

This study presents data on the color polymorphism in Chauliognathus flavipes Fabricius 1781 (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), analysing the variations in the emergence pattern of phenotypic classes for elytra color and mating system. The frequency of the phenotypic classes varies significantly throughout the season (males:X² = 59,705; females: X² = 61,017; 10 gl; p<0.001) being similar in males and females. The frequency of classes does not differ significantly among the insects that were copulating and those that were not copulating at the time of collection, i.e., the matings are random for elytra color patterns. The variations observed in frequency of phenotypic classes are not influenced by factors associated with sex. Furthermore, the elytra color patterns probably do not influence the individuals' ability to copulate.

Key words: Polymorphism, phenotypic class, emergence, assortative mating, Coleoptera

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Recebido em 19.IX.1997; aceito em 06.IV.1999.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  01 July 2009
• Date of issue
  June 1999

History

• Accepted
  06 Apr 1999
• Received
  19 Sept 1997