Sperm structure and ultrastructure in the Hymenoptera (Insecta)

Abstract

A light and electron microscopical survey of spermatozoan gross morphology and ultrastructure in the Hymenoptera is presented. Details are provided for the first time for members of the families Xyelidae, Argidae, Tenthredinidae, Diprionidae, Cephidae, Figitidae, Proctotrupidae, Diaprii‐ dae, Heloridae, Eurytomidae, Leucospidae, Perilampidae, Torymidae, Braconidae, Dryinidae, Sphecidae, Pompilidae and Vespidae. Spermatozoan length ranged from 8 μm in some Braconidae to 500 μm in one chalcidoid. Considerable variation in gross morphology and ultrastructure were observed between taxa. Several phylogenetically informative characters were noted. Very small spermatozoa characterized most of the non‐cyclostome subfamilies of Braconidae; spirally twisted axoneme and mitochondrial derivatives occur in the Eulophidae, Eurytomidae and Pteromalidae; spermatozoa with virtually indistinguishable head (nucleus and acrosome) regions characterized the Vespinae and Polistinae. The presence of well‐developed spermatodesmata in the vas deferens and seminal vesicle characterize the Symphyta and were largely absent from other groups though they are occasionally present in some bees.

Morphology of the male reproductive system and spermiogenesis in Hypanthidium foveolatum (Alfken, 1930) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Megachilinae)

“…The structure of the H. foveolatum spermatozoa is similar to the general description for insect sperm ( Quicke et al, 1992, Newman and Quicke, 1998, Newman and Quicke, 1999a, Newman and Quicke, 1999b, Newman and Quicke, 2000, Lino-Neto et al, 1999, Lino-Neto et al, 2000a, Lino-Neto et al, 2000b, Lino-Neto and Dolder, 2001a, Lino-Neto and Dolder, 2001b, Lino-Neto and Dolder, 2002, Zama et al, 2001, Zama et al, 2004, Zama et al, 2005a, Zama et al, 2005b, Báo et al, 2004and Fiorillo et al, 2005. They are linear, long and slender as which is observed for the majority of the Hymenoptera.…”

“…It was described for Symphyta (Quicke et al, 1992 andQuicke, 1999a), parasitic wasps (Lino-Neto and Dolder, 2001a), ants (Wheeler et al, 1990 andDolder, 2002) and for bees (Peng et al, 1993, Zama et al, 2001, Zama et al, 2004, Zama et al, 2005a, Zama et al, 2005b, Báo et al, 2004and Fiorillo et al, 2005. The presence of four acrosomal vesicle lateral projections along the perforatorium is not observed in other Hymenoptera already examined.…”

“…Some recent studies have demonstrated that the structure and ultrastructure of spermatozoa in Hymenoptera furnish sufficient variations to provide additional characters for cladistic analysis (Quicke et al, 1992, Dallai and Afzelius, 1995, Lino-Neto et al, 1999, Lino-Neto et al, 2000a, Lino-Neto et al, 2000b, Lino-Neto and Dolder, 2001a, Lino-Neto and Dolder, 2001b, Lino-Neto and Dolder, 2002, Zama et al, 2001, Zama et al, 2004, Zama et al, 2005a, Zama et al, 2005b, Zama et al, 2007, Báo et al, 2004, Araújo et al, 2005and Fiorillo et al, 2005 as has been shown possible in other groups of insects (Baccetti, 1987 andJamieson et al, 1999). The study of spermiogenesis can also provide new characters for improving the accuracy of hypotheses on phylogenetic relationships.…”

Morphology of testicular and post-testicular spermatozoa in Microstigmus arlei Richards, 1972 and M. nigrophthalmus Melo, 1992 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Pemphredoninae) with phylogenetic consideration

“…Vespidae it varies from 13 to 577 μm ( Quicke et al, 1992 andMancini et al, 2006) while in Apoidea, these measurements vary between 80 μm and 450 μm for sphecids ( Quicke et al, 1992 andZama et al, 2005b) and bees (e.g. Baer et al, 2003, Zama et al, 2004, Báo et al, 2004, Fiorillo et al, 2005aand Fiorillo et al, 2005b, except for Euglossini with 750 to 1.500 μm in length .…”

“…The twisted sperm was considered a characteristic of the parasitic wasps (Wilkes and Lee, 1965, Quicke et al, 1992, Lino-Neto et al, 1999, Lino-Neto et al, 2000aand Lino-Neto and Dolder, 2001b and its occurrence in Symphyta and Aculeata has not yet been reported. Thus, the occurrence of twisted sperm in Microstigmus and in the Crabroninae, Trypoxylon spp.…”