Genetic comparison of two colour morphs of Phyllotreta tetrastigma (Coleoptera : Chrisomelidae, Alticinae)

In the flea beetle species Phyllotreta tetrastigma two colour morphs (2B and 4S) exist in western Europe. We test whether these forms are genetically differentiated using two techniques: Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of allozyme loci and Isoelectric Focusing (IEF) of general proteins. PAGE reveals that both forms are not genetically isolated and IEF did not show any differences in banding patterns between them. Both forms are considered to interbreed and to belong to the same gene pool.