Melanin is the most widespread pigment in organisms. Melanin-based coloration has been
repeatedly observed to be associated with the same traits and in the same direction in …

Termites are vital members of old-growth tropical forests, being perhaps the main
decomposers of dead plant material at all stages of humification (decay). Termite …

In the last two decades a considerable number of studies have described geographic
variation in morphometric, physiological and behavioral traits of over a dozen species of wild …

Melanism has been found in a wide range of species, but the molecular mechanisms
involved remain largely elusive. In this study, we studied the molecular mechanisms of the …

Melanism is an important component of insect cuticle and serves numerous functions that
enhance fitness. Despite its importance, there is little information on its genetic basis or its …

Drosophila yakuba and D. santomea are sister species that differ in their levels of abdominal
pigmentation; D. yakuba shows heavily pigmented posterior abdominal segments in both …

Cuticle melanism in insects is linked to a number of life history traits: a positive relationship
is hypothesized between melanism, immune function, fecundity and lifespan. However, it is …

Dark pigmentation of adults resulting from cold exposure during development is ubiquitous
among insects. Yet the costs associated with the developmental plasticity of melanisation …

The effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV) on the animal body have been reported in many
studies, and melanin has emerged as a protective mechanism. In smaller insects such as …

Melanism has long been thought to be a habitat adaptation with a fitness cost. Here we
reported a homozygous melanic strain (SEM) of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)(Insecta …