FEMALE MEIOSIS IN EARIAS VITTELLA (FABR.) (NOCTUIDAE : LEPIDOPTERA) MAY BE ACHIASMATIC !

The behaviour of chromosomes during meiosis was studied in females of Earias vitiella (fabr.) (Noctuidae, Lepidoptera) The haploid chromosome number is 31. All bivalents are homomorphic and sex chromosomes can not be identified. Throughout prophase, frou pachytene until pro-metaphase all the bivalents remain associated non-homologously via telomeres, forming a single multibranched chain. Subsequently, non-homologous associations disappear, as a result all the bivalents become free and get arranged on the metaphase plate. They show clear cut reductional split. Diplotene structures are absent. Hence the meiosis appears achiasmatic.