Karyotypes of Some Tropical Reduviids and Cytotaxonomy of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

Abstract

Data is presented on 2n~numbers of some fortysix (46) species of Tropical Reduviidae collected in Southern Ghana, West Africa. This information is combined with existing data and together analyzed and discussed. It was found that the roccgnised morphological plasticity of Reduviidae extends to the diploid numbers as well. However a level of cytological organization was found to exist within the family. Three autosomal-Chromosome groups: 20A, 24A and 23A are proposed. It has emerged that within the confines of these groups 2n-numbers are sufficiently restricted and consistent to be of definitive and therefore systematic value. These autosomal groups which bring together various related subfamilies have been found to have a close parallelism to earlier morphological groups suggested by Davis (1961, 1969), Kumar (1962) and Louis and Kumar (1972). With this strong support the dissolution of the present family Reduviidae is suggested; 3 new families based on the above groupings to replace it. These measures are all in aid of homogeneity of families within Heteroptera creation of tribal classification and reduction of unbalanced classification. On the basis of biology, karyotype and genitalia morphology, the colour forms of Phinocoris bicolor (Fab) have been re-identified recognizing R. bicolor, R.ghaurii and R. louisii. Also (a) Karyotype evolution (direction and mechanisms) (b) Origin of the multiple sex-chromosome mechanisms and (c) Holokinetic theory, are discussed within the context of Reduviidae and Heteroptera in general.