Journal
PROTOPLASMA
Volume 256, Issue 1, Pages 3-11Publisher
SPRINGER WIEN
DOI: 10.1007/s00709-018-1276-3
Keywords
Leaf-cutting ants; Parasitoid; Polytrophic ovary; Female reproductive tract
Categories
Funding
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico CNPq [3015165/2013-5]
- Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Supeiror CAPES
- Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais FAPEMIG [APQ-00508-16]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Eibesfeldtphora tonhascai (Diptera: Phoridae) is a parasitoid of leaf-cutting ants and a potential biological control agent against these insect pests. This study describes the morphology of the ovary and spermatheca of E. tonhascai. The female reproductive tract of this parasitoid has a pair of meroistic polytrophic ovaries, two lateral oviducts that open into a common oviduct, an elongated accessory gland, and two spermathecae. Young oocytes are small and spherical, and their size increases as yolk is stored in the cytoplasm. This process is followed by chorion production by follicular cells. Mature oocytes are elliptical or torpedo-shaped. The reservoir wall of the spermatheca has type III glandular cells with cytoplasm rich in free ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and secretory vesicles. The apical surface of these cells has microvilli associated with mitochondria. The reservoir lumen is lined by a cuticle and filled with spermatozoa. This is the first report of the ovary and spermatheca morphology of E. tonhascai and contributes to the comprehension of the reproductive biology of this parasitoid of leaf-cutting ants.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available