A preliminary report on the reproductive system of a polistine wasp Ropalidia montana Carl (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Abstract

Ropalidia montana is an old world social wasp with distinct caste polymorphism. The three castes i.e. queen (reproductive female), drone (reproductive male) and worker (sterile female), besides having behavioral peculiarities show distinct differences in the shape, size and color of abdomen. They also have differences in their internal anatomy. The present study deals with the reproductive system of all three castes. The reproductive system of the queen consists of paired ovaries with polytrophic ovarioles, common and lateral oviducts, a spermatheca and external genitalia. The reproductive system of drone consists of a pair of a testes and seminal vesicle encapsulated in a scrotal sac like structure, a pair of mesodermal accessory glands, a pair of vas deferens, a pair of post vesicular deferent ducts, an ejaculatory duct and endophallus. The reproductive system of the worker with five rudimentary ovarioles arising from common oviduct is peculiar.