Color Variation in Insects Reveals Latitude Influence in Brazil
Dr. J.R. de Almeida
[https://x.com/dralmeidajr][in
Editora Priscila M. S. Gomes
Brazilian researchers have released new data on the melanic variation of the insect Dysdercus maurus, belonging to the Pyrrhocoridae family, common in several regions of the country. The study analyzed natural populations collected in eastern and northeastern Brazil, covering a range between 3° and 21° South latitude, and revealed an important correlation between the insect’s coloration and its geographical location.
The species, known for its polyphagous diet, showed remarkable differences in the frequency of individuals with yellowish or blackened areas in specific body structures, such as the pronotal disc, the scutellum, and the tibiae. According to the researchers, this variation is not random: it proved to be associated with the latitude of the collection site, suggesting that environmental and geographic factors may directly influence the insect’s color patterns.
The findings reinforce the importance of understanding how environmental pressures shape the traits of natural populations along geographic gradients. In the case of Dysdercus maurus, a species that interacts with different agricultural crops, the study of melanic variation can provide valuable insights not only for evolutionary biology but also for applied ecology.
The authors emphasize that such investigations help build a broader picture of insect adaptation in tropical environments, revealing how geographic factors influence biological diversity at a regional scale.
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