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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Quantifying Abdominal Pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: June 1, 2017
The Genetics of Melanism in MALACOSOMA DISSTRIA HUbner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)
1North Central Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, St. Paul, MN 55108.
Abstract:
The forest tent caterpillar is polymorphic for two melanic genes affecting wing color of moths. These are the first genetically determined morphological traits reported for the genus. Dark (D) is a sex-limited, autosomal dominant with a phenotype of dark brown males. Frequencies in population samples varied from 8 to 44%. Characteristics of Dark and nonmelanic males were compared. Larval development times, larval survival and pupal weights were not significantly different, but mean fecundity was higher for females with Dark progeny. Band (b), a darkened area across the forewings, occurred in low frequency in both sexes.
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