Eur. J. Entomol. 102 (3): 553-556, 2005 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2005.079

Phenotypic plasticity of elytron length in wingless two-spot ladybird beetles, Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Suzanne T.E. LOMMEN1, Peter W. DE JONG2, Paul M. BRAKEFIELD1
1 Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; e-mails: Lommen@rulsfb.leidenuniv.nl, Brakefield@rulsfb.leidenuniv.nl
2 Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands; e-mail: Peter.deJong@wur.nl

Winglessness in the two-spot ladybird beetle Adalia bipunctata (L.) is determined by a single locus with the wingless allele recessive to the winged wildtype allele. The expression of the wingless trait is highly variable, with individuals missing a variable part of elytra and flight wings; the elytra and wings appear to be truncated rather than miniature in form. The degree of winglessness is partly determined genetically. Here we report on the phenotypic plasticity of the degree of winglessness. The environmental effect on elytron length relative to maximal elytron length in wingless phenotypes was studied by rearing offspring of single pair crosses of this form at a low (19°C) or high (29°C) temperature. Offspring reared at 19°C showed relatively longer elytra than those reared at 29°C.

Keywords: Coccinellidae, Adalia bipunctata, wing dimorphism, wing development, temperature, canalisation

Received: January 31, 2005; Revised: May 9, 2005; Accepted: May 9, 2005; Published: August 15, 2005  Show citation

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LOMMEN, S.T.E., DE JONG, P.W., & BRAKEFIELD, P.M. (2005). Phenotypic plasticity of elytron length in wingless two-spot ladybird beetles, Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). EJE, 102(3), 553-556. doi: 10.14411/eje.2005.079
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