SUPERNUMERARY CHROMOSOME SEGMENTS IN DIFFERENT GENERA OF FORMICIDAE

Supenumerary chromosome segments have been detected in natural populat ions of Tapinoma nigerrimum, Aphaenogaster senilis, Aphaenogaster iber ica, Plagiolepis schmitzii, and Plagiolepis pygmaea. Chromosomal locat ion, frequencies, response to C-banding techniques, and other aspects of extra segments are studied. Previous hypotheses about the chromosom e differentiation processes between related species of the genus Tapin oma are examined using this new cytogenetic information. The possible significance of the supernumerary chromosome segments in the process o f chromosomal evolution in ants is discussed.