A New Technique for Preserving the Form of Artificially Inflated Endophalli of Bees

We present a simple technique for keeping the form of artificially expanded endophalli in bees (Hymenoptera). Endophalli were inflated using the introduction of low melting-point agarose from a syringe inserted in the anterior opening of the metasoma. Under refrigeration, the endophalli kept their e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNeotropical entomology Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 231 - 234
Main Authors Dutra, A L, Oliveira, R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.04.2017
Subjects
Agriculture
Animals
Bees
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Entomology
Hymenoptera
Life Sciences
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Phylogeny
Scientific Note
Specimen Handling
scanning electron microscopy
Genitalia
morphology
Hymenoptera
preparation
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Summary:We present a simple technique for keeping the form of artificially expanded endophalli in bees (Hymenoptera). Endophalli were inflated using the introduction of low melting-point agarose from a syringe inserted in the anterior opening of the metasoma. Under refrigeration, the endophalli kept their expanded shape for up to three days allowing the description of structure, morphometric analyses, and examination of the external sculpturing of the cuticle under scanning electron microscope. The technique provides new possibilities for the study of functional morphology, sexual selection, and reconstruction of bee phylogeny.
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ISSN:1519-566X
1678-8052
DOI:10.1007/s13744-016-0451-5