Performance
In order to picture copulatory marks additionally the men vaginal morphology of each types, i reached men and women genitalia because of dissections. For this function, we sampled additional queens (one another virgin and physogastric mated of these) and additional freshly came up males each and every varieties, following the same sampling conditions previously demonstrated (understand the past sections). We then dissected per specimens’ metasoma to access new genital part of females and you will men. Immediately following dissection, we instantly shoot this type of formations to be sure the ethics regarding membranous architecture, especially in females. Dissections adopted the method previously discussed inside the Vaginal functional morphology, hypothesized plugging methods and you may mating ranks. In the long run, i put a good Leica DM a lot of stereomicroscope, coupled with a drawing pipe to set up the pictures of one’s mating couples (?20 magnification, Genital practical morphology, hypothesized plugging tips and you can mating ranking) additionally the vaginal useful morphology (?80 magnification, Genital functional morphology, hypothesized plugging strategies and you can mating ranking). We vectorized see here now and you can handled such images using a photograph publisher software. We and additionally put an effective Leica DFC420 camera linked to a beneficial Leica M205A stereomicroscope to make higher-solution photo of women and you may males genitalia (?1.0 contact and you will ?50 magnification, Part 2.4). First, i took multifocus color photo, upcoming we piled her or him in one picture making use of the Leica app package adaptation step three.cuatro.step one. We constant this technique for every single genitalia (men and women) out of all of the tested stingless bee species, but one to, Yards. melapling limits.
Traumatic mating when you look at the stingless bees
Zero melanized spots were observed when you look at the inspected unmated virgin queens. In most kinds, physogastric queens exhibited melanized spots on the membranous pouches ( Table 1), with the exception of Yards. fasciculata ( Profile step 1). New membranous pouches had been the only real part having copulatory scratches. In for every mated king, patches had been usually coordinated, matching new inferred position of set of knob valves for the the male genital pill. Patches was indeed found on for each wallet, and you can symmetrically positioned ( Shape 1). Simultaneously, melanized patches appeared to be long lasting, since i seen him or her in mated queens of various ages, according to our side don class ( Second Shape S3 ).
Female vaginal chamber, development from copulatory scratches, and you can ventral view of male genital products off F. longipes, P. minima, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, Melipona flavolineata, M. seminigra, and you may Meters. fasciculata. Out-of kept to help you best, images inform you the fresh genital chamber of virgin queens, brand new genital chamber off mated queens, and also the melanized spots entirely on queens, being expressed from the white arrows throughout the 3rd line regarding photo. Singly mated queens let you know just one pair of melanized patches, revealed to own F. longipes, P. minima, S. aff. postica, M. flavolineata, and you will Yards. seminigra; or an extended-name connected connect, simply used in Yards. fasciculata. Remated Yards. seminigra queens, shown of the black asterisk, inform you multiple pairs away from melanized spots and you may central patches. Throughout the right hand group of pictures, men capsules was showed since the triggered mating plugs only for Melipona varieties, demonstrating turned manhood valves. We plus inform you an inactivated mating plug to have Meters. fasciculata, as the conveyed from the light asterisk. Black colored bars depict a measure out-of 0.5 mm. So it shape comes with pictures away from six off our eight studied types (see Point and methods).
Female genital chamber, pattern out of copulatory scratching, and you will ventral view of male genital products out-of F. longipes, P. minima, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, Melipona flavolineata, Meters. seminigra, and you will Meters. fasciculata. Regarding left so you’re able to proper, photos tell you the vaginal chamber of virgin queens, the fresh vaginal chamber out-of mated queens, and the melanized spots found on queens, which are conveyed by white arrows on the third line away from photos. Singly mated queens tell you a single collection of melanized patches, revealed for F. longipes, P. minima, S. aff. postica, M. flavolineata, and you can M. seminigra; otherwise a long-label attached connect, merely included in Yards. fasciculata. Remated M. seminigra queens, indicated of the black asterisk, reveal multiple pairs out of melanized spots and you can central spots. Regarding the right hand selection of photo, men medications is displayed since activated mating plugs just for Melipona variety, indicating rotated dick valves. We as well as reveal an enthusiastic inactivated mating plug for M. fasciculata, due to the fact indicated by the white asterisk. Black colored pubs represent a level out of 0.5 mm. It profile comes with pictures away from six away from the seven learned varieties (come across Matter and techniques).