Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Advertisement

Heredity
  • View all journals
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Content Explore content
  • About the journal
  • Publish with us
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed
  1. nature
  2. heredity
  3. original article
  4. article
Sex chromosome evolution in Simulium erythrocephalum (Diptera: Simuliidae)
Download PDF
Download PDF
  • Original Article
  • Published: 01 April 1985

Sex chromosome evolution in Simulium erythrocephalum (Diptera: Simuliidae)

  • R J Post1 nAff2 

Heredity volume 54, pages 149–158 (1985)Cite this article

  • 1639 Accesses

  • 10 Citations

  • Metrics details

Abstract

The sex chromosomes of Simulium erythrocephalum show a pattern of serial differentiation by the linkage of inversions to either X or Y. Two inversion systems, IL-A and IS-B+I+G are maintained in stable polymorphism with sex differences in frequency throughout southern England. These inversions are linked to the sex chromosomes such that males are more likely to be heterozygous. Heterozygosity and homozygosity for inversions IL-A and IS-B respectively seem to be associated with speed of larval development and are probably selected.

Similar content being viewed by others

Cellular sex throughout the organism underlies somatic sexual differentiation

Article Open access 13 August 2024

Faster adaptation but slower divergence of X chromosomes under paternal genome elimination

Article Open access 11 June 2025

Allopolyploidization from two dioecious ancestors leads to recurrent evolution of sex chromosomes

Article Open access 12 August 2024

Article PDF

References

  • Bedo, D G. 1978. Band and nucleolar polymorphisms in polytene chromosomes of Simulium ornatipes (Diptera: Simuliidae). Cytobios, 21, 113–133.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charlesworth, B. 1978. Model for evolution of Y chromosomes and dosage compensation. Proc Natl Acad Sci, 75, 5618–5622.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charlesworth, D, and Charlesworth, B. 1980. Sex differences in fitness and selection for centric fusions between sex-chromosomes and autosomes. Genet Res, 35, 205–214.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Darlington, C D, and La Cour, L F. 1976. The Handling of Chromosomes. Allen and Unwin, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller, H J. 1914. A gene for the fourth chromosome of Drosophila. J Exp Zool, 17, 325–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nei, M. 1970. Accumulation of nonfunctional genes on sheltered chromosomes. Am Natur, 104, 311–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrukhina, T E. 1968. A study of chromosomal polymorphism in a natural population of the Red-Headed Fly Boophthora erythrocephala. Tsitologiya, 10, 1148–1154.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Post, R J. 1982a. Sex-linked inversions in blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae). Heredity, 48, 85–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Post, R J. 1982b. Notes on the natural history of Simulium erythrocephalum (Diptera: Simuliidae). Ent Mon Mag, 118, 31–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Post, R J. 1983. The annual cycle of Simulium erythrocephalum (Diptera: Simuliidae) at a site in Norfolk. Freshwater Biology, 13, 379–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puri, I M. 1925. On the life history and structure of the early stages of Simuliidae (Diptera: Nematocera), Part 1. Parasigology, 17, 295–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothfels, K H, and Mason, G F. 1975. Achiasmate meiosis and centromere shift in Eusimulium aureum (Diptera-Simuliidae). Chromosoma, 15, 111–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruhm, W, and Hechler, J. 1974. Untersuchungen über die potentielle Natalität vershiedener mammalophiler Kriebelmückenarten unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Boophthora erythrocephala De Geer. Z Ang Ent, 77, 19–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiklund, C, and Fagerstrom, T. 1977. Why do males emerge before females? Oecologia, 31, 153–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes
  1. R J Post

    Present address: Department of Medical Entomology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, U.K.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England

    R J Post

Authors
  1. R J Post
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Post, R. Sex chromosome evolution in Simulium erythrocephalum (Diptera: Simuliidae). Heredity 54, 149–158 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1985.20

Download citation

  • Received: 15 May 1984

  • Issue date: 01 April 1985

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1985.20

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Download PDF

Advertisement

Explore content

  • Research articles
  • Reviews & Analysis
  • News & Comment
  • Podcasts
  • Current issue
  • Collections
  • Follow us on X
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed

About the journal

  • Journal Information
  • Open access publishing
  • About the Editors
  • Contact
  • About the Partner
  • For Advertisers
  • Subscribe

Publish with us

  • For Authors & Referees
  • Language editing services
  • Open access funding
  • Submit manuscript

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

  • Explore articles by subject
  • Find a job
  • Guide to authors
  • Editorial policies

Heredity (Heredity)

ISSN 1365-2540 (online)

ISSN 0018-067X (print)

nature.com sitemap

About Nature Portfolio

  • About us
  • Press releases
  • Press office
  • Contact us

Discover content

  • Journals A-Z
  • Articles by subject
  • protocols.io
  • Nature Index

Publishing policies

  • Nature portfolio policies
  • Open access

Author & Researcher services

  • Reprints & permissions
  • Research data
  • Language editing
  • Scientific editing
  • Nature Masterclasses
  • Research Solutions

Libraries & institutions

  • Librarian service & tools
  • Librarian portal
  • Open research
  • Recommend to library

Advertising & partnerships

  • Advertising
  • Partnerships & Services
  • Media kits
  • Branded content

Professional development

  • Nature Awards
  • Nature Careers
  • Nature Conferences

Regional websites

  • Nature Africa
  • Nature China
  • Nature India
  • Nature Japan
  • Nature Middle East
  • Privacy Policy
  • Use of cookies
  • Legal notice
  • Accessibility statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Your US state privacy rights
Springer Nature

© 2026 Springer Nature Limited