Morphology of ovary and spermathecae of the parasitoid Eibesfeldtphora tonhascai Brown (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract

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.

Mating mediates morphophysiological changes in the spermathecae of Coptotermes gestroi queens

“…Many mitochondria were observed around the receiving canal of the secretory cells and especially at the apical limit of the canal cells, suggesting that such regions are involved in energy‐requiring processes: uptake and secretion of content into the lumen (Ahmed & Gillott, 1981; Lay et al, 1999; Pascini et al, 2012). Moreover, the occurrence of RER and strongly electron‐dense vesicles in the secretory cells of mated queens, indicates the biosynthesis and transport of proteinaceous content into the lumen (Pascini et al, 2013; Farder‐Gomes et al, 2019). Such features are in agreement with the moderate positive reaction of the spermathecal secretion to the xP histochemical test.…”

Alimentos de proximidad en Córdoba: Una investigación acción en Sistemas Agroindustrial y Agroecológico.

“…As taxas de parasitismo reportadas em estudos similares variaram de 2 a 5% (Bragança 2011, Galvão et al 2019. As espécies responsáveis pelo parasitismo pertenceram aos mesmos gêneros já relatados por outros autores (Bragança, 2011;Farder-Gomes et al, 2019;Galvão et al, 2019).…”

Morphology of the Ovary and Spermatheca of the Leafcutter Ant Acromyrmex rugosus Queens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

“…The oocyte originates from 1 of these cells, whereas the nurse cells originate from others (Buning 1994;Patrício & Cruz-Landim 2006). The main portion of the ovariole is the vitellarium, in which oocytes grow and store yolk (Cruz-Landim 2009;Farder-Gomes et al 2019). As the oocytes mature, they move towards the ovariole, so that oocytes in early stages of development are at the germarium end and the mature ones are at the oviduct end, ready for fertilization (Farder-Gomes et al 2019).…”