Ultrastructural studies of the mandibular gland of Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier, 1836 (Apidae, Meliponini): a comparison between workers and queens

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultrastructural analysis of the effect of mating delay on cell death in the ovaries of virgin honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queens

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Vitellogenin content in fat body and ovary homogenates of workers and queens of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides during vitellogenesis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Differences in mushroom bodies morphogenesis in workers, queens and drones of Apis mellifera: Neuroblasts proliferation and death

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphology, ultramorpholgy and morphometry of the fat body of virgin females and queens of the ants Pachycondyla striata (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

The fat body cells of virgin females and queens of Pachycondyla striata ants belonging to the subfamily Ponerinae are illustrated from morphologic, ultramorphologic and morphometric viewpoints. Camera lucida drawing techniques were used, as well as scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Measurements of trophocytes and oenocytes areas in the tissue were recorded. The results showed that in P. striata queens and virgin females the trophocytes are arranged in cord-like formations in association with oenocytes. Trophocytes of both castes had round shapes, with rather vacuolized cytoplasm, whereas oenocytes, being smaller than trophocytes, had more homogeneous cytoplasm. It was also observed that both trophocytes and oenocytes of virgin females were larger than those found in the same queen cellular types.

Effect of larval food amount on ovariole development in queens of Trigona spinipes (Hymenoptera, Apinae)

Caste determination in Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) is trophogenic. Larvae that eat about 360 mu l of food become queens, while those who consume 36 mu l develop into workers. We studied the effect of larval nutrition on the number and length of ovarioles and on ovarian development in fifth instar larvae, white eyed, pink eyed and black-eyed pupae as well as newly emerged adults. All larvae have four ovarioles per ovary, while in queen pupae this number ranged from 8 to 15. Cyst formation, the cell death and other characteristics of ovary morphogenesis were the same regardless of the quantity of food consumed. These results are discussed in relation to caste differentiation in other bees.

Mitosis and cell death in the optic lobes of workers, queens and drones of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) during metamorphosis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Differential flight muscle development in workers, queens and males of the eusocial bees, Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona postica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultrastructure of the intramandibular gland of workers and queens of the stingless bee, Melipona quadrifasciata

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphologic and morphometric aspects of oenocytes of Apis mellifera queens and workers in different phases of life

Oenocytes of adult workers and queens of Apis mellifera L. were studied in different ages or life stages, by means of morphometric and histologic techniques. In workers, the oenocytes were found in the head, near the mandibles and in the abdomen, immersed in the parietal fat body mainly below the sterna, close to the wax gland. In queens, two populations of oenocytes different in size and localization were found within the parietal and visceral fat body, respectively. The oenocytes of workers and queens show the presence of acid lipids and acid phosphatase. The role of these cells in the castes differences is discussed.

Morphological and physiological variation between queens and workers of Protonectarina sylveirae (de Saussure) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphological aspects of cell reabsorption in laying queens and workers of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The exocrine glands of swarming females and physogastric queens of Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar) (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae)

The histological study of the exocrine glands in the swarming females showed the presence of tergal glands, mandibular glands, salivary glands and sternal glands. Tergal and sternal glands are not developed in the physogastric queens, probably, because of a regression process. The development of mandibular glands is similar in swarming females and physogastric queens.

Changes in the structure and pigmentation of the eyes of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) queens with the limão mutation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

CYTOPHOTOMETRIC EVALUATION OF CORPORA ALLATA DNA DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARVAE OF WORKERS AND QUEENS (APIS-MELLIFERA L, HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE)

Cytophotometric observation of corpora allata from workers and queens of A. mellifera showed significant variations in DNA content from the 2nd to the 4th instar of both castes, but the differences between castes are present only in the 2nd instar.The corpora allata are characterized by the presence of diploid, as well as polyploid cells, distributed in classes that are well established since the earliest developmental stages. However the frequency of cell nuclei in the higher classes of ploidy increases with development. This occurrence is responsible for the increase of the average DNA content in older larvae.