Specimens dissection, illustrations or photos, and you may multifocus higher-resolution images

Results

So you’re able to photograph copulatory marks plus the male genital morphology each and every variety, i accessed male and female genitalia through dissections. For this function, i tested most queens (each other virgin and physogastric mated of those) and additional recently emerged guys of any variety, after the same sampling conditions prior to now explained (understand the past areas). We then dissected each specimens’ metasoma to gain access to the brand new genital part of women and you can men. Once dissection besthookupwebsites.org/adultfriendfinder-review, we instantly shoot these types of structures to be sure the stability away from membranous tissues, especially in women. Dissections then followed the process previously explained for the Vaginal functional morphology, hypothesized plugging strategies and you can mating positions. Ultimately, i put a Leica DM a thousand stereomicroscope, along with an attracting tube to set up the fresh pictures of one’s mating couple (?20 magnification, Genital practical morphology, hypothesized plugging procedures and you may mating ranking) as well as the vaginal functional morphology (?80 magnification, Vaginal practical morphology, hypothesized plugging tips and you may mating positions). We vectorized and you can treated such graphics having fun with a photo publisher software. I also used a Leica DFC420 digital camera connected with a good Leica M205A stereomicroscope to manufacture highest-resolution photographs of women and you will boys genitalia (?step 1.0 lens and you may ?fifty magnification, Part 2.4). First, we took multifocus color pictures, next we stacked her or him in a single image with the Leica app suite type step three.4.1. We constant this procedure for each genitalia (men and women) away from all the sampled stingless bee types, however, that, M. melapling limitations.

Harrowing mating for the stingless bees

Zero melanized spots was seen within the checked unmated virgin queens. In every varieties, physogastric queens showed melanized spots on the membranous purse ( Table 1), with the exception of Yards. fasciculata ( Figure step 1). New membranous pouches was indeed the only region which have copulatory marks. When you look at the each mated king, patches were constantly matched up, matching new inferred condition of the pair of manhood valves in the male vaginal product. Patches was indeed located on each pouch, and you will symmetrically organized ( Profile step 1). On top of that, melanized spots appeared as if long lasting, due to the fact i observed him or her inside the mated queens of different many years, centered on all of our side wear class ( Second Figure S3 ).

Ladies genital chamber, pattern out of copulatory scratching, and ventral view of men vaginal capsules out of F. longipes, P. minima, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, Melipona flavolineata, Meters. seminigra, and you can Yards. fasciculata. Out-of remaining so you can proper, pictures inform you the genital chamber regarding virgin queens, the newest vaginal chamber from mated queens, together with melanized patches entirely on queens, that are indicated from the white arrows regarding 3rd column off images. Singly mated queens tell you just one pair of melanized patches, found for F. longipes, P. minima, S. aff. postica, Meters. flavolineata, and Yards. seminigra; otherwise a lengthy-title affixed plug, just included in Yards. fasciculata. Remated Yards. seminigra queens, expressed because of the black colored asterisk, let you know numerous pairs regarding melanized patches and you can main patches. Regarding right hand band of photos, male capsules try displayed just like the triggered mating plugs simply for Melipona species, showing rotated dick valves. We in addition to tell you a keen inactivated mating plug to own M. fasciculata, because the expressed of the light asterisk. Black colored bars portray a measure out of 0.5 mm. So it figure comes with photos from six away from our very own eight learnt species (select Situation and techniques).

Ladies vaginal chamber, pattern out of copulatory marks, and ventral view of male vaginal medicine out of F. longipes, P. minima, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, Melipona flavolineata, M. seminigra, and M. fasciculata. Out-of remaining so you’re able to proper, photographs inform you new genital chamber out of virgin queens, the fresh genital chamber from mated queens, and the melanized patches available on queens, which are conveyed from the white arrows on the third line off photos. Singly mated queens let you know an individual set of melanized patches, revealed for F. longipes, P. minima, S. aff. postica, Meters. flavolineata, and you may Yards. seminigra; otherwise a lengthy-name attached plug, merely used in M. fasciculata. Remated M. seminigra queens, shown of the black asterisk, reveal numerous sets regarding melanized spots and you will central patches. Throughout the right-hand set of photo, men supplements was exhibited as activated mating plugs only for Melipona varieties, appearing rotated penis valves. I and tell you a keen inactivated mating plug to own M. fasciculata, given that conveyed of the light asterisk. Black colored bars represent a size regarding 0.5 mm. So it figure is sold with pictures off 6 away from our 7 learned kinds (discover Procedure and methods).