Cytogenetic Variability of European Tettigoniinae (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae): Karyotypes, C- and Ag-NOR-banding

Karyotypes, C-banding pattern and localization of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in 34 European species and subspecies belonging to the subfamily Tettigoniinae are described (the karyotypes of 26 species for the first time). In the males chromosome numbers vary from 2n=33 to 2n=23 and Fundamental Numbers (FN) from 36 to 27. The highest number of chromosomes for this group, 2n♂=33 (FN=33), was found in Psorodonotus illyricus macedonicus. In species belonging to genera Decticus, Metrioptera, Anterastes, Bucephaloptera, Parapholidoptera, and Eupholidoptera, as well as in Pholidoptera frivaldskyi and Pholidoptera griseoaptera, a karyotype of 2n=30+X0 (FN=31) was found. Ph. macedonica and Ph. aptera aptera are characterized by 2n=28+X0 (FN=31). In species from genera Drymadusa (D. dorsalis limbata) 2n=26+X0: FN=30 and Gampsocleis (G. abbreviata), karyotypes of 2n=22+X0 (FN=36) were found. Ph. macedonica and Ph. aptera aptera as well as G. abbreviata differ in karyotypes from other representatives of these genera. New data confirmed that Robertsonian fusions and tandem fusions played the most important role in the evolution of the chromosome set in Tettigoniinae. Cytogenetic similarities and differences between particular species are discussed.