A new approach to the auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera, Insecta) cytogenetics: chromosomes of the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (L.) examined using various chromosome banding techniques.

The karyotype of the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (L.) was studied using conventional chromosome staining, C- and AgNOR- banding, and fluorescent CMA3- and DAPI- techniques. This is the first report on differential staining of the holocentric chromosomes of Auchenorrhyncha. The karyotype of Ph. spumarius includes 2n = 22 + XX/X0. The autosomal pair 1 is large and carries a gap in every homologue. After silver staining, NORs were revealed in both this chromosome pair and a middle-sized pair, most likely 6 or 7. In spermatocyte meiosis, the majority of bivalents formed one chiasma each. The bivalent 1 showed from 1 to 4 chiasmata, the value of 1 or 2 being prevalent. Two further bivalents also showed two chiasmata in some cells. After C-banding, terminal and interstitial dot-type C-heterochromatic blocks were revealed in the chromosomes. In 4 of 11 studied males, the autosomal pair 1 was polymorphic for an extra segment attached to one of the homologues. The segment consisted of both heterochromatic and euchromatic portions. No defined signals were observed in any chromosome treated with DAPI. After CMA3- staining, bright fluorescent signals were obtained in the NOR-bearing chromosomes, suggesting GC-rich DNA bound to the NORs.