CYTOTAXONOMY OF <i>CONOPHTHORUS</i> (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Abstract

Abstract The male meiotic karyotypic formula of Conophthorus coniperda (Schwarz) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) is 9AA + XY. This karyotype differs from C . resinosae Hopkins and C . banksianae McPherson, both of which have the karyotypic formula of 8AA + XY. Supernumerary chromosomes were found in different populations of C . resinosae and C . banksianae but were absent in C . coniperda . No geographic variation in the karyotypes of the three species was observed. The karyotypic formulae confirm the designations of C . coniperda and C . resinosae by morphological characters, but do not support the designation of C . banksianae as a distinct species.