title: Parthenogenetic reproduction demonstrated in the diploid Spasalus puncticollis (Le Peletier & Serville 1825), n. stat., from the Antilles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Passalidae).
abstract: Only females were observed in Spasalus crenatus (Mac Leay 1819) in the Antilles, from Puerto Rico to Saint-Vincent, whereas both sexes are in Trinidad and on the continent. No difference in endo- and ectodermic female genitalia could be noticed between the two populations. Chromosomes of specimens from Guadeloupe reveal a 26,XX karyotype, as in females of various sexual species of Passalini, which demonstrates its diploidy. Breedings were developed with isolated immature stages. After nine years, descendants from a single female are demonstrating their parthenogenetic reproduction. This is the first recorded parthenogenesis in Passalidae and a rare telytoky in diploid insects. Relationships between parthenogenesis, diploidy and insularity are discussed in the scheme of geographical parthenogenesis. No discriminant morphological character on adults could be found between the two populations, except the total length. The modes of reproduction distinguishing the two geographically separated populations suggest the presence of two taxa: S. crenatus on the continent and Trinidad; the parthenote S. puncticollis (Le Peletier & Serville 1825), n. stat., on the Arc of the Antilles.
authors.affiliation: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Département « Systématique & Évolution », UMR 7205 MNHN/CNRS/UPMC/EPHE, ISYEB, Entomologie CP 50, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France. Electronic address: sbl@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Département « Systématique & Évolution », UMR 7205 MNHN/CNRS/UPMC/EPHE, ISYEB, Entomologie CP 50, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France. Electronic address: amdutril@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dutrillaux
authors.affiliation: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Département « Systématique & Évolution », UMR 7205 MNHN/CNRS/UPMC/EPHE, ISYEB, Entomologie CP 50, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France. Electronic address: bdutrill@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dutrillaux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017691:Caribbean Region; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010312:Parthenogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Antilles; Coleoptera; Diploidy; Diploïdie; Insularité; Insulation; Parthenogenesis; Parthénogenèse; Passalidae; Scarabaeoidea; West Indies