A STUDY OF ELYTRA PATTERN INHERITANCE IN ADALIA-BIPUNCTATA

Inheritance of a rare pattern on elytra of the two-spot ladybird Adali a bipunctata L. (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) named tigrina was investig ated. This pattern (two transversal black bands joined by an intersect ion) is determined by the S-tg allele, which is dominant in relation t o the allele S-t (typica, two black spots on red elytra) and recessive to the S-m allele (4-maculata, four red spots on black elytra). The S -tg allele has variable expressivity; the least pigmented ladybirds wi th S-tg genotypes are similar to the annulata form. On the contrary, t he alleles S-m and S-t have stable expression including in progeny of interpopulation (St. Petersburg x Moscow) crosses.