5.11 Reproductive system of Q and D and the production of sperm and eggs Flashcards
What happens to the ovaries of a queen after mating?
The ovaries increase in size after mating when eggs or ova are produced.
What is the structure of each ovary in a queen?
Each ovary consists of between 150-180 ovarioles, which are tubes within which the eggs develop.
What do ovarioles lead into?
Ovarioles lead into lateral oviducts, which then merge to form the median or common oviduct.
What is the function of the median oviduct?
The median oviduct serves both ovaries and passes the valvefold close to the entrance to the spermatheca.
What does the spermatheca hold?
The spermatheca holds the sperm from the drones.
What is the role of the spermathecal gland?
The spermathecal gland nourishes the sperm.
How are eggs developed in the ovarioles?
Eggs develop from germinal cells, forming around 48 trophocytes and an oocyte through meiosis.
What surrounds the whole ovum or egg?
The whole ovum or egg is surrounded by follicle cells.
What happens to trophocytes as the egg develops?
The trophocytes absorb nutrients from the haemolymph and pass these to the oocyte, which increases in size.
What occurs when the egg is about to be laid?
The egg can pass through the reproductive system without being fertilised or can be fertilised by sperm from the spermathecal gland.
What is the process of fertilisation in the egg?
The egg passes over the muscular valvefold, which presses the egg against the entrance of the spermathecal duct.
How many ovarioles do worker bees possess?
A worker possesses ovaries made of around 2-12 ovarioles.
What is the role of the drone’s testes?
The role of the drone’s testes is to produce sperm cells.
What is the process of sperm production in drones?
Sperm are produced in tubes starting as germ cells, dividing to produce spermatogonia, which form spermatocytes and then spermatids.
What happens to sperm after they mature in drones?
Once mature, sperm move down the muscular vas deferens tubes into the seminal vesicles in preparation for mating.
What occurs during mating in drones?
Sperm travel through the ejaculatory duct, passing mucus glands that add mucus to the sperm.
What is the function of the endophallus bulb during mating?
The endophallus bulb everts through the phallotreme and enters the queen’s bursa copulatrix.
What is the fate of sperm after entering the queen?
Sperm move to the spermatheca and reside there until needed, with around 5-6 million sperm stored after multiple matings.
What are the ovaries?
Two, one each side of the abdomen situated above the digestive system. Made up of 150-180 egg tubes known as ovarioles which produce the eggs.
What are oviducts?
One tube leading from each ovary down which the eggs pass after leaving the ovary. These are lateral oviducts which join together to form the median oviduct, a very short tube that leads to the vagina.
What is the vagina?
A somewhat wider tube, rather oval in shape, ending in a narrow slit. There is another tube that enters the vagina on its dorsal side. Immediately below this second opening, on the floor of the vagina is a fold of tissue called the valvefold.
What is the function of the valvefold?
The queen’s deployment of the valvefold determines whether the egg passing will be fertilised or not.
What is the bursa copulatrix?
This is a wide cavity opening to the outside of the body. The sting is loosely anchored to its top. On either side are two swellings called the lateral pouches.
What is the spermatheca?
A round structure situated above the vagina. There is a short spermathecal duct leading from it which opens into the dorsal wall of the vagina.
What is the function of the spermathecal duct?
There is a valve and pump within the duct that controls the release of sperm to the vagina.
What do the spermathecal glands do?
These glands provide nourishment to the 5.5-6 million sperm stored in the spermatheca after mating.
What are the testes?
The two testes are the structures that produce sperm.
When do the testes reach their peak size?
They reach their peak size in the pupal stage before the drone emerges.
What happens to the testes after the drone emerges?
They gradually shrink over the next 12 days as the drone reaches full sexual maturity.
What is the vas deferens?
Short curly tubes with muscular walls that lead from the testis to the seminal vesicle.
What is the structure and function of the seminal vesicle?
Large muscular walled sausage-shaped structures where spermatozoa take their final form and are nourished by a fluid produced by the cells.
What are mucus glands?
Large fat glands that form a U-shape and lie below the smaller seminal vesicles, not involved with sperm production or storage.
What is the function of the lining of muscular cells in mucus glands?
They produce a liquid that sets into a thick mass on contact with air.
What connects the seminal vesicles to the mucus glands?
A short tube from each of the seminal vesicles opens into the base of the mucus glands.
What is the ejaculatory duct?
A long tube from the inner side of the base of the U formed by the mucus glands.
Where does the ejaculatory duct open?
The duct opens into the bulb of the endophallus.
What is the bulb of the endophallus?
A very swollen structure with various plates of cuticle on its surface.
What happens during mating involving the endophallus?
The drone inverts his endophallus into the queen’s open sting chamber, leading to ejaculation.
What occurs to the drone during mating?
The drone becomes paralysed, flips backwards, and ejaculation results from the pressure of the drone’s haemolymph as the abdomen contracts.
What are the fine tubes in the testis called?
Each testis is made up of a series of very fine tubes that open in the vas deferens.
Where are the original germ cells housed in the testis?
At the top of each tube is the germarium where the original germ cells are housed.
What do germ cells divide to form?
The cells divide to form spermatogonia.
What are groups of spermatogonia enclosed in a membrane called?
As these move down the tube, they form groups enclosed in a membrane and are called spermatocytes.
What do spermatocytes grow into after dividing?
The spermatocytes grow in size and then divide (the abortive meiotic division) to produce spermatids.
How do spermatids change shape?
At this point, they change their shape to become long thin cells with a swollen ‘head’ end containing the nucleus and a long ‘tail’. Now fully formed spermatozoa.
Where do spermatozoa pass after formation?
The spermatozoa pass through the vas deferens into the seminal vesicle where they are stored.
What is the function of the seminal vesicles?
The vesicles have muscular walls lined internally by cells that produce a fluid to nourish the sperms until they are required.
Describe the production of the honey bee egg.
Describe how sperm is produced and stored 7
* Each testis is made up of a series of very fine tubes that open in the vas deferens.
* At the top of each tube is the germarium where the original germ cells are housed.
* The cells divide to form spermatogonia.
* As these move down the tube they form groups enclosed in a membrane and are called
spermatocytes.
* The spermatocytes grow in size and then divide (the abortive meiotic division) to produce
spermatids.
* At this point they change their shape. They become long thin cells with a swollen ‘head’ end
containing the nucleus and a long ‘tail’. Now fully formed spermatozoa.
* The spermatozoa pass through the vas deferens ito the seminal vesicle where they are stored.
* The vesicles have muscular walls lined internally by cells that produces a fluid to nourish. the
sperms until they are required.
