Summary: | In this study, cytogenetic analysis of the metaphase chromosomes from imaginal discs of <i>Aedes</i> (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes—<i>Aedes communis</i>, <i>Ae. punctor</i>, <i>Ae. intrudens</i>, and <i>Ae. rossicus</i>—was performed. The patterns of C-banding and DAPI staining of the heteroсhromatin and the length of the chromosomes demonstrate species specificity. In particular, the <i>Ae. punctor</i> chromosomes are the shortest compared with <i>Ae. communis</i>, <i>Ae. intrudens</i>, and <i>Ae. rossicus</i>, and they also carry additional C and DAPI bands in intercalary regions. The <i>Ae. intrudens</i> chromosomes are the longest, they have pericentromeric C bands, and they almost lack any DAPI bands near the centromere of chromosome 3 versus <i>Ae. communis</i>, which has the largest pericentromeric DAPI blocks in all three chromosome pairs. <i>Ae. rossicus</i> also possesses DAPI bands in the centromeric regions of all chromosomes, but their staining is weaker compared with those of <i>Ae. communis.</i> Therefore, the analysis of karyotypes is a tool for species-level identification of these mosquitoes.
|