Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Sperm Bundles in the Seminal Vesicle of the Crematogaster victima (Smith) Adult Males (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

  • Systematics, Morphology and Physiology
  • Published:
Neotropical Entomology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study establishes the presence of spermatodesm in the seminal vesicles of sexually mature males of Crematogaster victima (Smith). In this species, the spermatozoa are maintained together by an extracellular matrix in which the acrosomal regions are embedded. This characteristic has not yet been observed in any other Aculeata. However, the sperm morphology in this species is similar to that described for other ants. The spermatozoa measure on average 100 μm in length, and the number of sperm per bundle is up to 256. They are composed of a head formed by the acrosome and nucleus; this is followed by the flagellum, which is formed by the centriolar adjunct, an axoneme with a 9 + 9 + 2 microtubule pattern, two mitochondrial derivatives, and two accessory bodies. The acrosome is formed by the acrosomal vesicle and perforatorium. The nucleus is filled with compact chromatin with many areas of thick and non-compacted filaments. Both mitochondrial derivatives have the same shape and diameters. The presence of sperm bundles in sexually mature males differentiates C. victima from other ants; however, the similarities in the sperm ultrastructure support the monophyly of this insect group.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Araújo VA, Báo SN, Moreira J, Neves CA, Lino-Neto J (2010) Ultrastructural characterization of the spermatozoa of Aethalion reticulatum Linnaeus 1767 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Aethalionidae). Micron 41:306–311

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beattie AJ (1985) The evolutionary ecology of ant-plant mutualisms. University of Cambridge, University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Blaimer BB (2012) Acrobat ants go global – origin, evolution and systematics of the genus Crematogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 65:421–436

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton B (1995) A taxonomic and zoogeographical census of the extant ant taxa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J Nat Hist 29:1037–1056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton B (2003) Synopsis and classification of Formicidae. Mem Am Entomol 71:1–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourke AFG, Franks NR (1995) Social evolution in ants. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, pp 550

  • Brandão CRF (1991) Adendos ao catálogo abreviado das formigas da região Neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Revta Bras Ent 35:319–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Brito P, Zama U, Dolder H, Lino-Neto J (2010) New characteristics of the male reproductive system in the Meliponini bee Friesella schrottkyi (Hymenoptera: Apidae): histological and physiological development during sexual maturation. Apidologie 41:203–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caetano FH (1980) Ultra-estrutura dos espermatozoides de Atta capiguara e Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Formicidae). Naturalia 5:105–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Cholodkovsky NA (1913) Über die Spermatodosen der Locustiden. Zool Anz 41:615–619

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Landim C (2001) Organisation of the cysts in bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) testes: number of spermatozoa per cyst. Iheringia 91:183–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dallai R, Frati F, Lupetti P, Adis J (2003) Sperm ultrastructure of Mantophasma zephyra (Insecta, Mantophasmatodea). Zoomorphology 122:67–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dallai R, Machida R, Uchifune T, Lupetti P, Frati F (2012a) The sperm structure of Galloisiana yuasai (Insecta, Grylloblattodea) and implications for the phylogenetic position of Grylloblattodea. Zoomorphology 124:205–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dallai R, Mercati D, Gottardo M, Dossey AT, Machida R, Mashimo Y, Beutel RG (2012b) The male and female reproductive systems of Zorotypus hubbardi Caudell (Zoraptera). Arthropod Struct Dev 24:337–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández F (2003) Lista de las especies de hormigas de la región Neotropical. In: Introducción a las hormigas de la Región Neotropical. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt Press, pp 379–411

  • Hashimoto Y (1991) Phylogenetic study of the family Formicidae based on the sensillum structures on the antennae and labial palpi (Hymenoptera, Aculeata). Jpn J Entomol 59:125–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Imai HT, Taylor RW, Crosland MWJ, Crozier RH (1988) Modes of spontaneous chromosomal mutation and karyotype evolution in ants with reference to the minimum interaction hypothesis. Jpn J Genet 63:159–185

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jamieson BGM, Dallai R, Afzelius BA (1999) Insects: their spermatozoa and phylogeny. New Hampshire (USA) Science Publishers, Inc., Enfield

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempf WW (1972) Catálogo abreviado das formigas da região Neotropical. Stud Entomol 15:3–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Lino-Neto J, Dolder H (2002) Sperm structure and ultrastructure of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Tissue Cell 34:124–128

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lino-Neto J, Dolder H, Mancini K, Mercati D, Dallai R (2008a) The short spermatodesm of Arge pagana (Hymenoptera: Symphyta). Tissue Cell 40:185–193

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lino-Neto J, Zama U, Mancini K (2008b) Morfologia dos espermatozoides de Hymenoptera. In: Vilela, EF; Santos, IA; Schoereder, JH; Campos, LAO; Lino-Neto, J (Org.). Insetos Sociais: Da Biologia à Aplicação. 1ª ed. Viçosa-MG: UFV, v. 1, pp 150–173

  • Mancini K, Lino-Neto J, Campos LAO, Dolder H (2006) Sperm ultrastructure of the wasp Agelaia vicina (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae). Insect Soc 53:333–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mancini K, Lino-Neto J, Dolder H, Dallai R (2009) Sperm ultrastructure of the European hornet Vespa crabro (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Arthropod Struct Dev 38:54–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreira J, Zama U, Lino-Neto J (2004) Release, behavior and phylogenetic significance of spermatozoa in bundles in the seminal vesicle during sexual maturation in Aculeata (Hymenoptera). Braz J Morphol Sci 21:185–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreira J, Araújo VA, Lino-Neto J (2012) Morphological aspects of testes and sperm ultrastructure in the “Symphyta” Digelasinus diversipes Kirby 1882 (Hymenoptera: Argidae: Dielocerinae). Microsc Res Tech 75:609–614

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moya J, Mancini K, Lino-Neto J, Delabie J, Dolder H (2007) Sperm ultrastructure of five species of the Neotropical ant genus Pseudomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Acta Zool 88:181–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman TM, Quicke DLJ (1999) Ultrastructure of imaginal spermatozoa of sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta). J Hymenopt Res 8:35–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira CM, Manicini K, Dolder H, Lino-Neto J (2010) Sperm morphology of the Prorops nasuta (Waterston, 1923) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae). Tissue Cell 42:242–246

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quicke DLJ, Ingram SN, Baillie HS, Gaitens PV (1992) Sperm structure and ultrastructure in the Hymenoptera (Insecta). Zool Scr 21:381–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiff N, Flemming AJ, Quicke DLJ (2001) Spermatodesmata of the sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta): evidence for multiple increases in sperm bundle size. J Hymenopt Res 10:119–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons LW (2001) Sperm in competition II: sperm morphology. In: Simmons LW (ed) Sperm competition and its evolutionary consequences in the insects. Princeton University Press, New Jersey, pp 250–275

  • Siva-Jothy MT (1997) Odonate ejaculate structure and mating systems. Odonatologica 26:415–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson TE, Blum MS (1967) Structure and behavior of spermatozoa of fire ant Solenopsis saevissima (Hymenoptera – Formicidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 60:632–642

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner M, Simmons LW (2011) Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of Onthophagus taurus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) exhibits heritable variation. Naturwissenschaften 98:213–223

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler DE, Crichton ED, Krutzsch PH (1990) Comparative ultrastructure of ant spermatozoa (Formicidae: Hymenoptera). J Morphol 206:343–350

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler DE, Krutzsch PH (1992) Internal reproductive system in adult males of the genus Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). J Morphol 211:307–317

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson EO (1976) Which are the most prevalent ant genera? Studia Entomol 19:187–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Zama U, Lino-Neto J, Dolder H (2001) Ultrastructure of spermatozoa in Plebeia (Plebeia) droryana Friese (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponina). J Hym Res 10:261–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Zama U, Lino-Neto J, Dolder H (2004) Structure and ultrastructure of spermatozoa in Meliponini (stingless bees) (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Tissue Cell 36:29–41

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zama U, Lino-Neto J, Melo SM, Campos LAO, Dolder H (2005a) Ultrastructural characterization of spermatozoa in Euglossine bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae). Insect Soc 52:122–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Zama U, Brito P, Lino-Neto J, Campos LAO, Dolder H, Báo SN (2005b) The sperm morphology of mud dauber Sceliphron fistularium Dahlbom (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Sphecidae), as an indicative of bees relation. J Submicros Cytol Pathol 37:313–321

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Douglas Elias Santos for the line drawing. We also thank the Núcleo de Microscopia Eletrônica e Microanálise of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV). This research was supported by the Brazilian agencies Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2011/21033-9).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Depto de Biologia Geral, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil

    C M Oliveira & J Lino-Neto

  2. Depto de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Univ Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Rio Claro, SP, Brasil

    J Moreira & M I Camargo-Mathias

  3. Depto de Biologia, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Maranhão, Cubatão, MA, Brasil

    L F Gomes

Authors
  1. C M Oliveira
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J Moreira
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L F Gomes
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M I Camargo-Mathias
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J Lino-Neto
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J Lino-Neto.

Additional information

Edited by Roberto Romani – University of Perugia

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oliveira, C.M., Moreira, J., Gomes, L.F. et al. Sperm Bundles in the Seminal Vesicle of the Crematogaster victima (Smith) Adult Males (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Neotrop Entomol 43, 201–208 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-014-0199-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-014-0199-8

Keywords