author(s)
M Bhubaneshwari Devi, O Sandhyarani Devi and Dhananjoy Singh Chingangbam

abstract
The cytotaxonomy of the hydrophilid, Sternolophus rufipes Fabricius 1792 was examined in this study using meiotic cell division from testis. The hydrophilini subtribe hydrophilina is composed of around 200 described species, including all known water scavenger beetles. The tribe hydrophilini is the most recognizable group in the family due to its large size and presence of sternal keel. In this study, we analysed 8 specimens of Sternolophus rufipes from the different wetland of Manipur. Chromosome analyses showed 2n= 18 with a sex chromosome system of the Xyp type (2n=18=16+Xy_p). All the autosomes, including the X chromosome were metacentric and y_p. The genus Sternolophus currently has nine valid species worldwide. In India only Sternolophus rufipes had been reported so far. In future exclusive exploration of this genus through morphometrics, cytotaxonomy and molecular studies are much for thorough diversity assessment in Manipur. In meiotic studies of Sternolophus rufipes, flame drying methods gives much better results than Acetocarmine staining. The diploid count was 18 with 16+Xy_p karyotype. The Y chromosomes were dots. The meiotic stages could be visualized in 100X due to smaller size of the chromosomes. There were not much deviation on the general features of the meiotic stages except that the diplotene stages were somewhat deviate from the general configuration in the sense that bivalents were extremely condensed and most of them were rounded in shape. The chiasmatic like features could be observed in nearly equatorially align diakinesis. Much is needed to be studied with this species in diversity and cytology in the future.