Morphology of the ovary and spermatheca of the leafcutter ant Acromyrmex rugosus queens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Abstract
The leafcutter ant Acromyrmex rugosus Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is considered a pest of several crops. In this study we investigated the morphology of the ovary and spermatheca of A. rugosus queens. The ovary is meroistic polytrophic with 12 ovarioles per ovary. Each ovariole has a short terminal filament, a germarium, and a long vitellarium with growth follicles. The nurse chamber near the germarium is larger than the egg chamber. The follicular cells surrounding the egg chamber are cuboidal, with a well-developed nucleus, whereas those surrounding the nurse chamber are flattened. The oocyte increases in volume along the ovariole toward the lateral oviduct. Oocytes have multiple accessory nuclei. Mature oocytes have cytoplasm rich in yolk granules. The reservoir epithelium of the spermatheca shows morphological differences, with both columnar and flattened cells. The spermathecal gland has elongated and acinus-like cells.
Resumo
A formiga cortadeira Acromyrmex rugosus Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) é considerada uma praga de várias culturas. Este estudo investigou a morfologia do ovário e espermateca de rainhas de A. rugosus. O ovário é meroístico politrófico com 12 ovaríolos por ovário. Cada ováriolo tem um filamento terminal curto, um germário e um longo vitelário com folículos em crescimento. A câmara nutridora perto do germário é maior que a câmara ovocítica. As células foliculares que circundam a câmara ovocítica são cuboidais com núcleo bem desenvolvido, enquanto as que circundam a câmara nutridora são achatadas. O ovócito aumenta em volume ao longo do ovaríolo em direção ao oviduto lateral. Os ovócitos têm múltiplos núcleos acessórios. O ovócito maduro apresentou citoplasma rico em grânulos de vitelo. O epitélio do reservatório da espermateca apresenta diferenças morfológicas, com células colunares e achatadas. A glândula espermatecal tem células alongadas e semelhantes a ácino.
Key Words: egg chamber; nurse chamber; ovariole; pest; spermathecal gland
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