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First cytogenetic characterisation of the parasitoid wasp Brachymeria (Pseudobrachymeria) vesparum (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2025

Rafael de Jesus Santos ,
Tailan Silva Pinheiro ,
Jamille de Araújo Bitencourt ,
Vanderly Andrade-Souza Open the ORCID record for Vanderly Andrade-Souza [Opens in a new window]  and
Juvenal Cordeiro Silva Junior
Rafael de Jesus Santos
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brazil
Tailan Silva Pinheiro
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brazil
Jamille de Araújo Bitencourt
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brazil
Vanderly Andrade-Souza*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brazil
Juvenal Cordeiro Silva Junior
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Vanderly Andrade-Souza; Email: vanderlyasouza@outlook.com
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Abstract

Cytogenetic analyses have been widely used to understand evolutionary processes and to resolve taxonomic uncertainties in insects. In particular, the mapping of specific chromosomal regions can provide insights about the genome organisation and interspecific relationships. Considering the importance of this approach and the scarcity of chromosomal data in some groups of Hymenoptera, this study provides the first cytogenetic characterisation of the parasitoid wasp, Brachymeria (Pseudobrachymeria) vesparum Bouček, 1992 (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). This species was characterised by 2n = 10 metacentric chromosomes. The heterochromatin was located at pericentromeric and terminal regions, being particularly conspicuous due to occupying a large part of chromosomes from pair 2. In addition, guanine–cytosine-rich blocks (GC+) were detected in the interstitial region of two chromosomal pairs. The data obtained were found to be useful for inferring the chromosomal rearrangements involved in speciation within Brachymeria, in addition to providing cytotaxonomic markers for further comparative cytogenetic studies.

Type
Research Paper
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 157 , 2025 , e1
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of Canada

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Footnotes

Subject editor: Chris Keeling

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