Histological study of the spermatheca in three thelytokous parthenogenetic ant species, Pristomyrmex punctatus, Pyramica membranifera and Monomorium triviale (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

作者：Gotoh Ayako^*; Billen Johan; Tsuji Kazuki; Sasaki Tomonori; Ito Fuminori

来源：Acta Zoologica, 2012, 93(2): 200-207.

DOI：10.1111/j.1463-6395.2010.00498.x

• thelytokous parthenogenesis
• spermatheca morphology
• relative spermatheca size
• ants

The evolution of obligate parthenogenesis may induce the degeneration of female mating ability and subsequently affect themorphology of the female reproductive organs related tomating and/ or spermstorage. Here, we investigated the size and structure of the sperm storage organ, the spermatheca, in three thelytokous parthenogenetic myrmicine ant species, Pristomyrmex punctatus, Pyramica membranifera and Monomorium triviale, and compared it with that of their related sexually reproducing species. So far, mated individuals have never been found in these three species, which appears to be in line with their parthenogenetic status. Although the spermatheca appears to be useless in these species, we could not find any evidence on the degeneration in size and morphology of their spermathecae. The spermathecal reservoir still has the columnar hilar epithelium, which is one of the major features for a functional spermatheca in ants.

• 出版日期2012-4