Karyological Studies of Five Species of Lepidoptera

Cytogenetic studies making use of in vitro injection of colchicine and conventional Giemsa staining have been carried out on five species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) belonging to three different families. Chromosomal preparations were made from brain ganglia and testis by using NaCl-acetic Carnoy-air drying method. The chromosomes bore typical dot like or elongated structures. Karyotype of the mitotic metaphase chromosomes on the basis of size and morphology showed 2n=60 in D. chrysippus (Linn.), 2n=54 in E. merione (Cram.) and 2n=62 in D. obliqua (Wlk.), E. vitella (Stoll.) and S. mauritia (Boisd.). Moreover, different meiotic stages from testis of these five species also confirmed their diploid number.