Cytotaxonomic notes on the Sympetrum pedemontanum complex (Anisoptera: Libellulidae)

Male germ cell chromosomes of S. p. pedemontanum (Allioni) (Switzerland; n = 13) are described and illustrated for the first time, and a redescription is given of the complement of S. p. datum (Selys), based on fresh Japanese material (n = 13). While a minute m-pair is present in the latter, considerably larger m-chromosomes occur in the nominate form. This observation, viewed in the light of the history of infraspeciation as derived from structural characters and distributional patterns by B.F. BELYSHEV (1973. The dragonflies of Siberia Vol 1, Pt. 1. Nauka, Moscow), is a new argument against the m-chromosome theory of karyotype evolution in Odonata.