GENETICS AND BIOLOGICAL FITNESS OF A BEIGE ELYTRAL MUTANT OF THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE, LEPTINOTARSA-DECEMLINEATA (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE)

A beige elytral mutant of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa dec emlineata (Say), has been isolated for the first time. The inheritance of the beige mutation is controlled by two dominant genes, both of wh ich are required for the expression of the color. The mutation could b e maintained at a low rate in the wild population by the presence of o ne of the two genes. The lower biological fitness of the beige mutant, characterized by a longer mean total development time and lower ferti lity, is demonstrated. The data suggest that the melanization of marki ngs on different areas of the body of the Colorado potato beetle are u nder the control of different genes. This study suggests that the prev ious presumption that other elytral anomalies were nongenetic in origi n may be in question.