Determination of chromosomal features in Cephalostenus elegans Brulle, 1832 (coleoptera:tenebrionidae:scaurini) species

In this study, cytogenetic analyses of Cephalostenus elegans species collected from two different locations in South Western Anatolia were performed. Mitotic and meiotic chromosome preparations were obtained from female and male gonads and they were analysed using Giemsa staining, C-banding and AgNOR staining. It was revealed that there was not any difference in chromosome number and morphology between the studied 17 males and 11 females. Chromosome number of these individuals was determined 2n=18 which is different from the ancestral chromosome number 2n=20 for Coleoptera-Adephaga. After investigations it was observed that these individuals have Xy sex determining system unlike the Xyp sex determining system commonly observed in Tenebrionidae family. It was determined that the X is the largest chromosome and the y is the smallest chromosome of the karyotype. As a result of AgNOR applications no probable NOR regions were detected. Using CHIAS IV plugin karyotype of the individuals was created and heterochromatin distribution in telomere regions was determined.