EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES FOR C-BANDING AND ASG-BANDING OF THE MITOTICCHROMOSOMES OF ANASTREPHA SPECIES (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE)

Methods previously described by Canovai et nl. (Caryologia 47: 241-247 , 1994) which produced C and ASG bands in mitotic chromosomes of Cerat itis capitata were applied to the chromosomes of several Anastrepha sp ecies. Metaphase plate yield was substantially increased by use of ima ginal disks together with cerebral ganglia. The C-bands were quite pro minent allowing the resolution of tiny blocks of heterochromatin. The ASG method produced G-like banded chromosomes, which permitted recogni tion of each individual chromosome. These simple techniques do not req uire special equipment and may be valuable for karyotype variability s tudies in fruit flies and other Diptera.