Comparative allozyme analysis of severel grasshopper species.

The allele frequency of four allozyme loci in four grasshopper species from two families of Catantopidae and Oedipodidae was examined using horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. The zymograms show that all four species have two loci in malate dehydrogenase (MDH). At MDH-1 one moderately migrated allele is shared and dominant in all four species. Locusta migratoria manilensi has two allele fixations in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malic enzyme (ME); while Gastrimargus saussure has a fixed allele at MDH-1 and a unique fixation at MDH-2. The overall genetic variance was the highest in Oxya chinensis (Allele per locus = 3.0; He = 0.22), but the lowest in L. migratoria manilens (Allele per locus = 1.5; He = 0.013). Allozyme data suggests the four species are close in phylogenetic relationship, but differentiated in genetic variation levels.