Karyotypic analyses of the bisexual and parthenogenetic tick (Haemaphysalis concinna)

The chromosomes of parthenogenetic and bisexual ticks (Haemaphysalis concinna) were analysed in the present study. Chromosome preparations were obtained from the mitotic metaphase of early embryonic cells in the egg mass using the air-drying method (splash technique) and Giemsa staining. The results of the study suggest that the bisexual race has a typical haemaphysalid karyotype. The chromosome number of the bisexual female diploid was 2n = 22 (20 + XX). They had a karyotype formula of 2n = 10m + 2sm + 2st + 8t. X chromosomes were prominent by their large size. Karyotype analyses of the parthenogenetic race revealed that the chromosome number of this race was 30–36. The karyotype formula was determined to be 3n = 12m + 12sm + 3st + 6t. The parthenogenetic karyotype did not reveal any morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes.