Allelic Frequencies and Inheritance of Colour Pattern in Coelophora Inaequalis (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

Abstract

Crosses were made between different colour forms of the predacious coccinellid Coelophora inaequalis (F.) from the Brisbane (Queensland) and Sydney-Newcastle (New South Wales) areas, including 2 new forms ('yellow' and 'heavy'). The following alleles were involved in these crosses: 'nine-spotted', 'elongated stripe', 'normal', 'fused' (= 'standard'), 'zig-zag', 'black', 'yellow' and 'heavy'. All possible heterozygotes not previously described were obtained and figured. All the colour patterns produced by these alleles followed the rule of mosaic dominance. There was little difference in the frequencies of the above alleles between populations in Brisbane and Mareeba (northern Queensland), but the composition of the Sydney-Newcastle population was distinctly different. An examination of some major insect collections provided further information on the distribution of these alleles in Queensland and New South Wales.