Karyological analysis of Cylindera trisignata (Latreille & Dejean, 1822) from Portugal (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae).

Cellular suspensions of germinal tissues of Cylindera trisignata provided the definition of its karyotype: 2n = 23 and 2n = 26 for the males and females respectively. This Palearctic species has a sex chromosome system of the X1X2X3X4Y/X1X1X2X2X3X3X4X4 type, only found until now in Cicindela maroccana pseudomaroccana. The heterosomes are not well-differentiated from the general morphological standpoint. To explain the origin of the 4X condition, a mechanism of dissociation of the X chromosomes rather than an incorporation of autosomal segments is proposed. However, based on the occurrence of distinct ploidy levels, both in male and female cells, with a relatively high incidence for the tetraploid condition with regular autosomal bivalents, the hypothesis of a possible evolutionary role of polyploidy is suggested.