Efficiency
To photo copulatory marks and also the men genital morphology of any species, we reached male and female genitalia because of dissections. For this function, i sampled more queens (each other virgin and physogastric mated of those) and additional recently emerged guys of each species, following the exact same sampling standards in the past discussed (comprehend the prior areas). We next dissected per specimens’ metasoma to get into the fresh vaginal region of women and you will boys. Just after dissection, we quickly photographed these structures to guarantee the stability from membranous buildings, particularly in girls. Dissections observed the process in the past revealed in Vaginal useful morphology, hypothesized plugging strategies and mating ranks. Fundamentally, we made use of a good Leica DM one thousand stereomicroscope, coupled with an attracting tubing to prepare the brand new visuals of the mating couple (?20 magnification, Vaginal practical morphology, hypothesized plugging tips and you can mating positions) additionally the vaginal useful morphology (?80 magnification, Vaginal functional morphology, hypothesized plugging actions and you will mating ranking). I vectorized and you may handled such layouts using a photo editor app. I plus used a great Leica DFC420 cam connected with good Leica M205A stereomicroscope to produce large-resolution photos of women and you can guys genitalia (?step 1.0 contact lens and you may ?50 magnification, Point 2.4). Earliest, i got multifocus color photos, after that we stacked them in one visualize by using the Leica app suite version 3.4.1. We frequent this procedure for every single genitalia (female and male) from all of the sampled stingless bee types, however, you to definitely, Meters. melapling restrictions.
Traumatic mating inside the stingless bees
No melanized patches had been detected for the checked unmated virgin queens. Throughout species, physogastric queens demonstrated melanized spots on their membranous pouches ( Desk step 1), apart from M. fasciculata ( Profile step 1). New membranous pockets was basically the only area that have copulatory scratches. During the each mated queen, spots was in fact dating chatfriends constantly paired, complimentary the newest inferred standing of your own set of manhood valves from inside the a man vaginal capsule. Patches was in fact found on per pocket, and you may symmetrically positioned ( Contour step 1). While doing so, melanized spots appeared as if permanent, since we observed him or her within the mated queens of various many years, centered on our very own side wear class ( Supplementary Shape S3 ).
Girls genital chamber, pattern out-of copulatory scratches, and you may ventral look at men vaginal drugs regarding F. longipes, P. minima, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, Melipona flavolineata, Yards. seminigra, and Meters. fasciculata. Out-of remaining so you can best, photographs inform you the fresh vaginal chamber regarding virgin queens, the fresh genital chamber away from mated queens, additionally the melanized patches available on queens, that are shown because of the light arrows regarding the 3rd column of photographs. Singly mated queens reveal a single group of melanized spots, revealed for F. longipes, P. minima, S. aff. postica, Meters. flavolineata, and you will M. seminigra; or a lengthy-term connected connect, only included in Yards. fasciculata. Remated M. seminigra queens, shown because of the black asterisk, reveal numerous pairs from melanized patches and main spots. Regarding right-hand gang of photos, men supplements try showed because triggered mating plugs simply for Melipona species, showing turned cock regulators. I together with show an enthusiastic inactivated mating connect to own Yards. fasciculata, since the indicated because of the white asterisk. Black bars depict a measure away from 0.5 mm. Which profile is sold with photographs out of 6 out of our very own 7 studied types (look for Issue and techniques).
People genital chamber, pattern off copulatory scratches, and you may ventral look at male vaginal medicine out-of F. longipes, P. minima, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, Melipona flavolineata, M. seminigra, and M. fasciculata. Out of left in order to best, photos tell you the fresh new genital chamber out-of virgin queens, new genital chamber out of mated queens, and melanized patches entirely on queens, being expressed by the light arrows in the 3rd column regarding photographs. Singly mated queens inform you an individual group of melanized spots, shown getting F. longipes, P. minima, S. aff. postica, M. flavolineata, and you may Meters. seminigra; otherwise a lengthy-term attached connect, simply used in Yards. fasciculata. Remated Yards. seminigra queens, shown by black asterisk, show multiple sets from melanized patches and main spots. On right-hand selection of pictures, male supplements try presented just like the triggered mating plugs only for Melipona species, exhibiting rotated manhood valves. We plus inform you an enthusiastic inactivated mating connect to possess M. fasciculata, while the expressed because of the light asterisk. Black pubs represent a level from 0.5 mm. Which shape has images regarding six out-of the seven analyzed variety (discover Matter and methods).