Silencing of the DNA methyltransferase 1 associated protein 1 (DMAP1) gene in the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis implies a role of the DNA methyltransferase 1‐DMAP1 complex in female fecundity

The invasive harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis is a textbook example of polymorphism and polyphenism as the temperature during egg development determines the frequency of melanic morphs and the number and size of black spots in nonmelanic morphs. Recent concepts in evolutionary biology suggest that epigenetic mechanisms can translate environmental stimuli into heritable phenotypic changes. To investigate whether epigenetic mechanisms...