Cytogenetics and Karyotype Evolution of the Genus Silvacoris Jacobs(Heteroptera: Aradidae: Carventinae) with the Description of a Statistical Method to Compare Karyotypes

The meiosis and karyotypes of the 3 Silvacoris species are described, figured and discussed. S. heissi Jacobs and S. pondolandensis Jacobs have 2n=14XY while S. karkloofensis Jacobs has 2n=12XY with 1 autosome distinctly larger than the others. A statistical method(based on the bootstrap method of Efron) to test the hypothesis that 2 autosomes of the S. heissi karyotype fused to form the large chromosome of S. karkloofensis is described and performed. It is concluded that autosomes 1 and 5 of the S. heissi karyotype most probably fused to form the large chromosome of S. karkloofensis.