Activation and viability of the ovaries and mating effect in the development of the spermatheca of females of Bombus (Fervidobombus) morio (Hymenotera: Apidae)

Abstract

Histological aspects of the reproductive system of Bombus morio,can contribute significantly to the knowledge of the species, to a better understanding of their breeding and initiation of queens for formation of new colonies. In this study had been analyzed related aspects the activation, viability of the ovaries, spermathecal differences in virgin queens, copulated queens and workers and the effect in the development of the spermatheca. Virgin queens between 5 and 30 days of age, had been dissected to verify the time that the virgin queens are fertile and if the mating delay would caused degeneration in the ovaries. The ovaries had been analyzed by histology, histochemical tests. The results indicate that the ovaries can remain functional for a long period of life of the queen, after 40 days of age; the virgins queens isolated may be inducing oviposition. The ovaries of the queens with 25 days of age present reabsorption process of oocytes. This occurs when some virgin queens are in the same colony suggesting that these queens are not ready to leave the colony and assume the role of worker. The isolated virgin queens in boxes start to oviposition indicating that queens of B. morio do not need be mating to induce oviposition. These queens can be produce males and this important result in the establishment of breeding in captivity conditions. In it analyzes of the spermathecal was found that workers does not have developed a functional espermatecal gland including can be absent. The increase of the volume of the spermatheca in the females this related more to the increase of the size because the workers are smaller.
Keywords: bumble bee, Bombus morio, queen, reabsorption of oocytes, mating, spermatheca.