Morphology of male reproductive system of two solitary bee species (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

• Published in: Neotropical entomology Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 595 - 600
• Main Authors: Araújo, Vinícius A(Depto de Biologia Animal Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia), Freitas, Felipe V(Univ Federal de Viçosa Depto de Biologia Geral), Moreira, Jane(Depto de Biologia Animal Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia), Neves, Clóvis A(Univ Federal de Viçosa Depto de Biologia Geral), Lino-Neto, José(Univ Federal de Viçosa Depto de Biologia Geral)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil 01.07.2010
• Subjects: Accessory gland; Animals; Bees - anatomy & histology; ENTOMOLOGY; Genitalia, Male - anatomy & histology; histology; Male; Melitoma segmentaria; Thygater analis; Accessory gland; Melitoma segmentaria; histology; Thygater analis
• ISSN: 1519-566X; 1678-8052; 1678-8052
• DOI: 10.1590/S1519-566X2010000400020

Bees can form all levels of social organization, from solitary to advanced eusocial societies. Although 80% of the species exist as solitary species, most researches emphasize social species. This study focuses on the description of the male reproductive system of the solitary beesThygater analis (Lepeletier) and Melitoma segmentaria (Fabricius) and searches for traits that support behavioral and phylogenetic studies. The reproductive system of males were dissected, fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer pH 7.2 and post-fixed with 1% osmium tetroxide. The tissue was dissected and included for light microscopy. The species presented similar anatomical traits, including paired testicles, seminal vesicles, deferent ducts, accessory glands and an ejaculatory duct. Each testicle was composed of four follicles. In both species, a testicle and a seminal vesicle were surrounded by a joint capsule, forming a seminal vesicle-testicle complex. The two species presented accessory glands with very distinct morphological traits. The anatomic pattern and the histological traits of the reproductive system of the species studied were similar to those described for other bees. In addition, these traits can be used to differentiate species and allow inferences concerning their reproductive biology.