Genome size variation in Melipona species (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and sub-grouping by their DNA content

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Table I

Genome size estimates, chromosome number and relative heterochromatin content of different Melipona species.

Species	Mean genome size (1C)	Chromosome	Relative heterochromatin
	(pg – Mbp)	number	content^*
1. M. subnitida^a	0.27 – 264.06	2n = 18¹	Low²
2. M. quadrifasciata^a	0.27 – 264.06	2n = 18¹,³,⁴,⁵	Low⁵
3. M. marginata^b	0.28 – 273.84	2n = 18³,⁴,⁵	Low⁵
4. M. bicolor^b	0.28 – 273.84	2n = 18⁵	Low⁵
5. M. asilvai^b	0.29 – 283.62	2n = 18⁵	Low⁵
6. M. mandacaia^a	0.35 – 342.3	2n = 18²	Low⁶
7. M. quinquefasciata^c	0.70 – 684.6	2n = 20⁷	High⁸
8. M. crinita^d	0.73 – 713.94	2n = 18⁶	High²
9. M. compressipes^c	0.78 – 762.84	2n = 18²	High²
10. M. seminigra^d	0.85 – 831.3	ND	ND
11. M. rufiventris^d	0.93 – 909.54¹⁰	2n = 18¹,⁹	High⁹
12. M. mondury^d	0.95 – 929.1¹⁰	2n = 18⁹	High⁹
13. M. grandis^c	0.95 – 929.1	ND	ND
14. M. scutellaris^d	1.08 – 1056.24	2n = 18⁵	High⁵
15. M. fuscopilosa^d	1.10 – 1075.8	2n = 18⁵	High⁵
16. M. eburnea^d	1.11 – 1085.58	ND	ND
17. M. capixaba^d	1.38 – 1349.64	2n = 18⁵	High⁵

Subgenus Melipona,

Subgenus Eomelipona,

Subgenus Melikerria,

Subgenus Michmelia.

Tarelho (1973);

Rocha et al. (2002);

Kerr (1948);

⁴

Kerr (1952);

⁵

Rocha and Pompolo (1998);

⁶

Rocha et al. (2003);

⁷

Pompolo (1994);

⁸

Pompolo, unpubl. data,

⁹

Lopes et al. (2008);

¹⁰

Lopes et al. (2009).

Low heterochromatin content: < 50%, high heterochromatin content: > 50%. ND: cytogenetically non-determined.