Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

The family Formicidae is composed of ants that organize themselves into castes in which every individual has a joint organizational function. Solenopsis Westwood, 1840 is an ant genus with opportunistic and aggressive characteristics, known for being invasive species and stings that cause burning in...

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Main Authors: Ananda Ribeiro Macedo de Andrade, Danon Clemes Cardoso, Maykon Passos Cristiano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2023-04-01
Series:Comparative Cytogenetics
Online Access:https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/100945/download/pdf/
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author Ananda Ribeiro Macedo de Andrade
Danon Clemes Cardoso
Maykon Passos Cristiano
author_facet Ananda Ribeiro Macedo de Andrade
Danon Clemes Cardoso
Maykon Passos Cristiano
author_sort Ananda Ribeiro Macedo de Andrade
collection DOAJ
description The family Formicidae is composed of ants that organize themselves into castes in which every individual has a joint organizational function. Solenopsis Westwood, 1840 is an ant genus with opportunistic and aggressive characteristics, known for being invasive species and stings that cause burning in humans. This genus is particularly difficult to classify and identify since its morphology provides few indications for species differentiation. For this, a tool that has been useful for evolutionary and taxonomic studies is cytogenetics. Here, we cytogenetically studied Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 from Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We evaluated the occurrence of polyploid cells in individuals and colonies by conventional cytogenetics. A total of 450 metaphases were analyzed and counted. Chromosome counts of individuals and colonies showed varied numbers of ploidies, from n = 16 to 8n = 128. The karyomorphometrical approach allowed determination of the following karyotypes: n = 10 m + 4 sm + 2 st, 2n = 20 m + 8 sm + 4 st, and 4n = 40 m + 16 sm + 8 st. Polyploidy can be found naturally in individuals and colonies and may represent an adaptative trait related to widespread distribution and invasion ability of new habitats.
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spelling doaj.art-3d89183fc0fe4ea89ea0a7276c5dea932023-04-13T08:11:05ZengPensoft PublishersComparative Cytogenetics1993-078X2023-04-0117597310.3897/compcytogen.17.100945100945Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)Ananda Ribeiro Macedo de Andrade0Danon Clemes Cardoso1Maykon Passos Cristiano2Universidade Federal de Ouro PretoUniversidade Federal de Ouro PretoUniversidade Federal de Ouro PretoThe family Formicidae is composed of ants that organize themselves into castes in which every individual has a joint organizational function. Solenopsis Westwood, 1840 is an ant genus with opportunistic and aggressive characteristics, known for being invasive species and stings that cause burning in humans. This genus is particularly difficult to classify and identify since its morphology provides few indications for species differentiation. For this, a tool that has been useful for evolutionary and taxonomic studies is cytogenetics. Here, we cytogenetically studied Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 from Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We evaluated the occurrence of polyploid cells in individuals and colonies by conventional cytogenetics. A total of 450 metaphases were analyzed and counted. Chromosome counts of individuals and colonies showed varied numbers of ploidies, from n = 16 to 8n = 128. The karyomorphometrical approach allowed determination of the following karyotypes: n = 10 m + 4 sm + 2 st, 2n = 20 m + 8 sm + 4 st, and 4n = 40 m + 16 sm + 8 st. Polyploidy can be found naturally in individuals and colonies and may represent an adaptative trait related to widespread distribution and invasion ability of new habitats.https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/100945/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Ananda Ribeiro Macedo de Andrade
Danon Clemes Cardoso
Maykon Passos Cristiano
Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)
Comparative Cytogenetics
title Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)
title_full Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)
title_fullStr Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)
title_full_unstemmed Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)
title_short Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)
title_sort assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant solenopsis saevissima smith 1855 hymenoptera formicidae myrmicinae
url https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/100945/download/pdf/
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