Lady genitalia off Yards. fasciculata and measures getting mating connect coupling. (A) Virgin female genitalia inside the frontal evaluate. (B) Male genitalia away from pre-copula men, dealing with the feminine genitalia. (C–E) Vaginal supplement, metasomal sterna S-VIII and S-IX. (F) Men genitalia starting new coupling of plug: ventral view of genital product and you may metasomal sternum S-IX projecting outside of the human anatomy of male by the an effective telescopic way. (G) Men vaginal product isolated of male’s system, that have knob valves brought about, gonostyli up against the contrary standing in terms of the first. (H) Metasomal sterna S-VIII and you can S-IX, where sternum S-IX assumes on the brand spanking new updates into the male’s instinct. (I) Mating plug in more detail, appearing the horizontal compressing off gonocoxites. (J) This new vaginal chamber off a connected female: this new membranous area who has this new mating connect affixed.
On low-Melipona species (F
longipes, S. aff. Postica, and you can P. minima), we noticed robust knob regulators which have intermediary curvature and you will a lowered spatha ( Figure step 1)paring the entire morphology from dick valves and you may spatha off Meters. fasciculata to another learnt varieties, we found that one another Meters. flavolineata and you will Meters. seminigra possess narrow penis regulators which have lower curvature. Yet not, Yards. seminigra have less valves than simply Meters. flavolineata, and you can a well-known spatha in comparison with another Melipona ( Figure step 1).
Breakdown off hypothesized plugging procedures
The very last condition away from mating plugs into the mated lady coordinated the condition of the male’s abdomen throughout copulation due to “J” way and you may position significantly less than female’s abdomen ( Contour 4C). In most physogastric queens from Yards. fasciculata, we noticed this new mating plug linked to the membranous genital pockets from the cock valves, towards the spatha epidermis founded towards the female ventral part, placed directly under brand new gonopore ( Shape 3J). We propose that the latest mating connect apparatus was caused in the event the male genital capsule is actually irreversibly protruded of male’s body, which results in changed ranks of the gonostyli, dick regulators, and gonocoxites.
The fresh new mating set of M. fasciculata, centered on videos number of mating away from a related kinds. All the way through: (A) men in flight, seeking to condition in itself over the people; (B) organized male, indicating sets out-of feet fitted over the female’s human anatomy; (C) men increasing the abdomen of your ladies; (D) male leaving the female after successful mating, that’s, the fresh mating connect accessory. In every parts, men wings try depicted so you’re able to depict its way while in the mating, based on Supplementary Movies S1 .
Brand new mating set of M. fasciculata, predicated on a video record of mating away from a related variety. From top to bottom: (A) men in flight, seeking position in itself over the female; (B) arranged men, indicating sets out-of feet fitting across the female’s system; (C) men improving the gut of your female; (D) men making the female once successful mating, which is, the fresh new mating plug connection. Throughout bits, men wings was depicted so you can depict its movement throughout you can find out more mating, predicated on Additional Video S1 .
According to the evaluation between asleep county from vaginal drugs and you can brought about state out-of mating plugs, its practical morphology, and in films details towards the mating conclusion away from a closely relevant kinds ( Supplementary Video clips S1 ), i suggest that triggering off mating connect happens in 5 hypothetical actions ( Figures step three and you will 4):
After immobilizing the female body, the male inserts his metasomal sternum S-VIII according to the female tergum T-VI, lifting they ( Contour 4C).
Given that people vaginal chamber try exposed ( Contour 3A), the male gonostyli satisfies the fresh new woman’s vaginal region. Immediately after location new sternum S-VIII, the male metasomal sternum S-IX protrudes out of the male’s system to your brand new female’s genital chamber also the vaginal supplement, of the an effective telescopic path ( Profile 3F). The new insertion away from men genital supplement with the females vaginal chamber isn’t with the gonostyli, and this flow backward inside processes, left beyond your girls genital chamber ( Contour 3G).