Genome evolution in the mosquitoes and other closely related members of superfamily Culicoidea.

Karyotypes and nuclear DNA amounts of 36 species belonging to twelve genera of mosquitoes and other closely related taxa in the superfamily Culicoidea (Dixidae, Chaoboridae, and Culicidae) were studied. The results showed an eight-fold range in haploid DNA amounts and a 4.5-fold range in total chromosomal lengths. It is concluded that the evolutionary trend in this superfamily has been an overall increase in total haploid DNA amounts from the primitive Dixidae to the highly evolved Culcidae, with a concomitant increase in overall chromosome sizes.