Preliminary report on a hybridogenetic stick-insect (Phasmatodea): the first case among invertebrates

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Abstract
Within the holomediterranean genus Bacillus (Insecta Phasmatodea) both bisexual and unisexual parthenogenetic taxa are known. We discovered a Sicilian location where bisexual B. grandii benazzii, diploid parthenogenetic B. rossius and their all-female hybrids are sympatric. By means of allozyme markers we determined that, in the hybrid, maternal B. rossius alleles are invariably passed to the offspring, while the paternal B.g. benazzii alleles are not; these are replaced in each generation and reflect the contribution from the new father. Therefore, in B. rossius—g. benazzii a hemiclonal inheritance exists, thus extending hybridogenetic reproduction to invertebrates.