Cytotaxonomy of Aphididae

Idiograms of the somatic chromosomes of 110 species of Aphididae are presented. It is concluded that although 2n chromosome numbers have stabilized in some genera at 8, 10, or 12, there has been so much fragmentation, and possibly also fusion, that there is no evidence to suggest a primitive number for aphids, nor to assist in studies on their phylogeny. Special problems in aphid systematics at the generic or specific level may be solved by examination of karyotypes.