Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T15:22:59.798Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

THE CHORIONIC STRUCTURE OF THE EGGS OF SOME SPECIES OF BUMBLEBEES (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE: BOMBINAE), AND ITS USE IN TAXONOMY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

E. H. Salkeld
E. H. Salkeld
Affiliation:
Biosystematic Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa K1A 0C6
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The surface features and the fine structure of the chorion of the bumblebee egg are described. The egg is covered by a reticulum of polygonal cells with elevated walls and with variously shaped protuberances at the wall junctions, except at each pole where the reticulum evanesces, Differences in the shape, size, and surface sculpturing of the protuberances and in the appearance of the walls are species-specific and a key to the eggs of the nine species is provided. The very thin chorion is composed of two parts with a third part comprising the walls of the polygonal cells; the egg possesses no aeropylar openings and micropylar openings were not found.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 110 , Issue 1 , 01 January 1978 , pp. 71 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Free, J. B. and Butler, C. G.. 1959. Bumblebees. Macmillan, New York; Collins, London.Google Scholar
Furneaux, P.S.S. and MacKay, A. L.. 1972. Crystalline protein in the chorion of insect egg shells. J. ultrastr. Res. 38: 343–359.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hobbs, G. A. 1964 a. Phylogeny of bumble bees based on brood-rearing behaviour. Can. Ent. 96: 115–116.Google Scholar
Hobbs, G. A. 1964 b. Ecology of species of Bombus Latr. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in southern Alberta. 1. Subgenus Alpinobombus Skor. Can. Ent. 96: 1465–1470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hinton, H. E. 1971. Polyphyletic evolution of respiratory systems of eggshells, with a discussion of structure and density-independent and density-dependent selective pressures. In Heywood, V. H. (Ed.), Scanning electron microscopy. The Systematics Assoc. Spec. Vol. 4. Academic Press, London and New York.Google Scholar
Hopkins, C. R. and King, P. E.. 1966. An electron-microscopical and histochemical study of the oocyte periphery in Bombus terrestris during vitellogenesis. J. cell. Sci. 1: 201–216.Google Scholar
King, P. E., Richards, J. G., and Copland, M. J. W.. 1968. The structure of the chorion and its possible significance during oviposition in Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and other chalcids. Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (A) 43: 13–20.Google Scholar
King, P. E., Ratcliffe, N. A., and Copland, M. J. W.. 1969. The structure of the egg membrane in Apanteles glomeratus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (A) 44: 137–142.Google Scholar
Milliron, H. E. 1961. Revised classification of the bumblebees — a synopsis (Hymenoptera: Apidae). J. Kans. ent. Soc. 34: 49–61.Google Scholar
Milliron, H. E. 1970. A monograph of the Western Hemisphere bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Bombinae). Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 65.Google Scholar
Milliron, H. E. 1971. A monograph of the Western Hemisphere bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Bombinae). I. The genera Bombus and Megabombus subgenus Bombias. Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 82.Google Scholar
Milliron, H. E. 1973 a. A monograph of the Western Hemisphere bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Bombinae). II. The genus Megabombus subgenus Megabombus. Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 89.Google Scholar
Milliron, H. E. 1973 b. A monograph of the Western Hemisphere bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Bombinae). III. The genus Pyrobombus subgenus Cullumanobombus. Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 91.Google Scholar
Mitchell, T. B. 1962. Bees of the eastern United States. Volume II. Tech. Bull. N.C. agric. Exp. Stn 152.Google Scholar
Richards, J. G. 1969. The structure and formation of the egg membranes in Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae). J. Micr. 89: 43–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richards, O. W. 1968. The subgeneric divisions of the genus Bombus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Ent.) 22: 211–276.Google Scholar
Salkeld, E. H. 1973. The chorionic architecture and shell structure of Amathes c-nigrum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Can. Ent. 105: 1–10.Google Scholar
Spurr, A. R. 1969. A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. ultrastr. Res. 26: 31–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stephen, W. P., Bohart, G. E., and Torchio, P. F.. 1969. The biology and external morphology of bees with a synopsis of the genera of northwestern America. Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon Univ., Corvallis.Google Scholar