Abstract
Species that have extensive geographic ranges but limited gene flow may have evolved different genetic backgrounds in widely separated populations. The spittlebug Philaenus spumarius is highly polymorphic for dorsal colour/pattern throughout its extensive northern temperate range. In Scandinavian populations, the eight melanic morphs are wholly or substantially restricted to the females and are dominant to typical in females but recessive in males. In a survey of 548 populations in England and Wales, the same morphs are regularly expressed amongst males and melanic frequencies in the two sexes approach equality, suggesting a different mode of genetic control. Laboratory breeding experiments using British stock demonstrate the dominance of melanics to typical in males as well as females. It is suggested that this difference in inheritance for the same polymorphic trait is due to different dominance modifiers in populations from the two regions.
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Stewart, A., Lees, D. Genetic control of colour polymorphism in spittlebugs (Philaenus spumarius) differs between isolated populations. Heredity 59, 445–448 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1987.154
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1987.154
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