Abstract
Male morph was found to be determined in different ways in two species of acarid mites within which morphologically distinct fighter and nonfighter males occur. Fighter males sired significantly larger proportions of fighters in comparison to nonfighter males in Rhizoglyphus robinii, but not in Caloglyphus berlesei. The genetic mechanism of male morph determination in R. robinii remains unclear: neither single-locus nor polygenic models fit the results of the crosses. Mites fed on a poor diet during development were less likely to develop into fighters in both species. However, increased density inhibited the development of fighters in C. berlesei, but not in R. robinii.
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Radwan, J. Male morph determination in two species of acarid mites. Heredity 74, 669–673 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1995.91
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1995.91
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